Juvic joint 21st, earns P438T

MANILA, Philippines - Juvic Pagunsan wavered coming home in tough conditions and hobbled with a one-over 72, finishing joint 21st in the weather-shortened Bridgestone Open ruled by Daisuke Maruyama at the Sodegaura Country Club course in Chiba, Japan yesterday.

The third round was suspended Saturday due to adverse weather conditions with Pagunsan, joint 12th at the halfway mark, bogeying two of the first four holes at resumption Sunday. But the Filipino ace struck back with four birdies against a bogey in a seven-hole stretch from No. 8 only to falter with bogeys on Nos. 15 and 16 for that 72.

He wound up with a 211, eight shots behind Maruyama, and won P438,000 one week after pocketing a whopping P4.5 million for sharing third place in the Japan Open.

Maruyama shot a 68 for a 203 and a three-stroke victory over IJ Jang, who rallied with a 66 to salvage second at 206.

Over in Malaysia, Mars Pucay fired a 69 to finish joint eighth at 279 in the PGM ASEAN PGA Negeri Sembilan Masters won by Thai Kwanchai Tannin yesterday.

Pucay took home $1,311.