Juvic on verge of win in Singapore

MANILA, Philippines - Juvic Pagunsan poised to herald his rise as an Asian power as he tied for the lead with Spain’s Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano in a storm-suspended, pressure-packed playoff in the rich Singapore Open.

The two will dispute the top $1 million purse today after organizers decided to call off the twice-halted playoff late Sunday.

Irrespective of what happens in the play-off, Pagunsan will take over the top spot of the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit as the first place purse is $1 million while the runner-up will take home $666,660.

Pagunsan battled back from five strokes down with an early charge in the final round of the $6 million event reduced to 54 holes as organized decided to cancel the third round due to thunderstorms with the ace Filipino shotmaker firing a four-under 67 at Serapong layout to finish ahead of the field at 14-under 199.

But the second round leader Fernandez-Castano, a four-time winner on the European Tour, saved par on the par-5 18th after dumping his drive into the water, holing out with an 18-foot putt for a 72 to force the playoff.

Fernandez-Castano wobbled on the back nine to throw away his lead with bogeys on Nos. 12, 14 and 15 but showed tremendous courage with crucial par putts on the 15th and 18th holes.

 When Pagunsan, a one-time Asian Tour winner and former top rookie, birdied the closing hole in front of a huge crowd, the Spaniard hit his drive into the water but brilliantly saved par.

 But the smooth-swinging Filipino sustained his momentum in the playoff on No. 18 and put his drive on the fairway while Fernandez-Castano hit the bunker when officials suspended play due to the threat of lightning.

They hit their second shots less than 100 yards to the green at resumption only to be halted just Pagunsan was about to hit his approach shot due when play was halted for the second time.

Current leader S.S.P. Chowrasia, who leads the merit race with $444,528 missed the halfway cut, as did the next three players on the rankings - Tetsuji Hiratsuka, David Gleeson and Siddikur.

Pagunsan, also set to clinch the Order of Merit crown back home, scored a breakthrough win style at the Pertamina Indonesia President Invitational in 2007 He produced a grandstand finish with a birdie, eagle to pip India’s Ghaganjeet Bhullar to the title and fulfill his promise as one of Asia’s rising stars. It was an emotional triumph for the Filipino as he endured a frustrating front half of the year with poor form due to a shoulder injury.

 Currently 53rd on the Order of Merit, the sweet-swinging Filipino has notched two top-10s this year, one in the ISPS Handa Singapore Classic in September and at last week’s Mercuries Taiwan Masters.

If he wins, Pagunsan will become the first Filipino to win a European Tour-sanctioned tournament.

Fernandez-Castaño began the third and final round three clear of Edoardo Molinari and James Morrison.