Juvic 5 shots off despite 66

MANILA, Philippines - Juvic Pagunsan, back in the hunt after a surprise pullout from the Solaire Open, went on a birdie-birdie finish to fire a five-under 66 and trail a hot-starting Masashi Ozaki by five in the first round of the Tsuruya Open at the par-71 Yamanohara Golf Club in Hyogo, Japan yesterday.

Pagunsan, who withdrew after shooting a 72 in the first round of the inaugural Solaire Open at Wack Wack two weeks ago to be with his pregnant wife, pressed his bid early with two birdies at the front then added two more on Nos. 13 and 15 to go four-under.

But he stumbled with a missed green bogey on the par-3 15th although he recovered the stroke with another birdie on the par-5 17th before holing out with his sixth birdie for a 33-33 round.

He made 27 putts but hopes to improve more in a bid to put himself in contention heading to the weekend play of the rich event.

Ozaki sizzled with a 30 at the front then closed out with a 32 spiked by an eagle on the 17th but marred by a final hole bogey for that nine-under 62 and a three-stroke lead over Kodai Ichihara, Tsujimura Yoshinori, Kawai Hiroo and Matsumura Michio.