Juvic 5 adrift in Japan

MANILA, Philippines - Juvic Pagunsan turned in a solid round of four-under 67 to put himself in early contention in joint 11th in the Asia-Pacific Panasonic Open paced by local start Yuta Ikeda at the Higashi Hirono Golf Club in Hyogo, Japan yesterday.

The Japan-based Pagunsan, who has had a series of so-so finishes on the Japan PGA Tour, including a joint 56th-place effort in last week’s Ana Open in Hokkaido, made a good start this time, hitting six birdies against two bogeys for a 34-33 round at the par-71 layout.

Still, he stood five strokes off Ikeda, who sizzled with a bogey-free nine-under 62 to post a two-shot lead over Katsumasa Miyamoto and four others in the $1.9 million event of the Asian and Japan PGA Tours.

Ikeda, who has nine victories in Japan, used just 23 putts to string nines of 31s, highlighting his flawless round with five saved pars.

Matsumoto also had a bogey-less round to lead the seven-under par scorers, who include Koumei Oda, Yusaku Miyazato and Hiroyuki Fujita while Korean Kim Do-hoon shot a 65 to tie Kazuhiro Yamashita at sixth.

Tomohiro Kondo took solo eighth with a 66.

 Pagunsan, the reigning Asian Tour No. 1, opened up with a birdie on No. 10 but bogeyed the par-3 11th after missing the green. He, however, rebounded with three birdies in a five-hole stretch to close the turn before making two birdies against a bogey at the front.

The ace Filipino shotmaker also had a steady stint on the green, making 28 putts while rescuing pars in three times that he went out of regulation.

Angelo Que made four birdies against two bogeys for a 69 for a share of 41st but Mars Pucay groped for form with a one-over 72.