Juvic joint 4th, earns P2M in Japan golf

MANILA, Philippines - Juvic Pagunsan lost his touch in a grueling backside duel and wound up with an even par 71, settling for joint fourth with two others in the Tsuruya Open won by Hideki Matsuyama at the Yamanohara Golf Club in Hyogo, Japan yesterday.

Pagunsan, who tied Matsuyama at second just two shots off the pace with a flawless 66 Saturday, recovered from a bogey start with birdies on Nos. 6 and 8 but stumbled with three bogeys against a birdie at the backside, needing to sink a long birdie putt on the 18th to save an even par 71.

He finished with a 13-under 271, five strokes behind Matsuyama, who took the crown with a stirring closing four-birdie binge. Matsuyama hit a 66 and ended up with an 18-under 266.

David Oh also closed out with a 66 and finished second at 267 while Kunihiro Kamii placed fourth with a 270 after a 69.

Pagunsan, who won the Asian Tour Order of Merit crown in 2011 to gain a card in this lucrative circuit, took home P2 million.