Juvic misses Dubai cut after poor 74

MANILA, Philippines - Juvic Pagunsan put to naught a decent one-under 71 in the opener as he hobbled with a two-over 74 yesterday and missed the cut in the rich Dubai Desert Classic at the Emirates Golf Club in Dubai yesterday.

With a 145 total, the 33-year-old Asian Tour’s No. 1 lay below the projected cut-off score of one-under 143 with around 25 players still fighting for slots at presstime for the top 60 in the weekend play of a highly competitive event.

World No. 2 Rory McIlroy strung up a 66 and 65 for a 131 and a two-stroke lead over world No. 4 Marin Kaymer, who had a 133 after a 67 with Stephen Gallacher a shot farther back at 134 after a 65.

Pagunsan had hoped for a better showing after pounding out a 71 in late afternoon flight in the first round where he birdied two of the last five holes at the front to gain a share of 54th and well above cut-off line in the 138-player field.

He opened the second round with five straight pars but dropped a stroke on No. 6 and tumbled down the standing. He made routine pars for the next four holes but stumbled with another bogey on the par-3 No. 11 then dropped another stroke on the 14th and bowed out of contention.

Not even a second straight birdie on the par-4 17th could save the day for Pagunsan, who hardly moved up the ranking and finished at joint 88th.