Juvic blitz nets solid 62, 1-shot edge

CARMONA, Cavite, Philippines – Juvic Pagunsan knew Southwoods like the back of his palm and he navigated it yesterday as if he knew every terrain and green for a bogey-free nine-under 62 and a one-stroke lead over an equally solid Pijit Petchkasem of Thailand halfway through the Aboitiz Invitational at the Legends course yesterday.

“I focused on hitting the fairways and greens,” said Pagunsan, who came through with near-flawless driving and impeccable iron shots that set up birdies from close range, the last two matching Petchkasem’s equally hot finish at the front for a 30 and an 11-under 131.

Petchkasem, one of seven players who shared the first round lead with 66, fired another five-under card capped by birdies on Nos. 8 and 9 as he matched Pagunsan’s second straight bogey-less round and stood just behind the Filipino ace at 132.

Zanieboy Gialon took advantage of an early start and shot a 63 to share third place with Angelo Que, who bucked shaky putting at the back to turn in a bogey-less 67 for 133 while erstwhile co-leader Janne Kaske of Finland rallied with four birdies at the front to save a 68 for solo fifth at 134.

Aussie Paul Donahoo and Japanese Masaru Takahashi lay a shot farther back at 135s with 66 and 69, respectively, as the elite foreign field continued to pound the par-71 layout for the second straight day and stay in bunch heading to the final 36 holes of the $100,000 event sponsored by Aboitiz Equity Ventures.

Malaysian Arie Irawat. Singapore’s Eugene Sim and Swede Malcolm Kokocinski, who also opened with 66s, slowed down with similar 70s and dropped to joint eighth at 136 with Ferdie Aunzo and Indian Himmat Rai, who carded identical 67s, Thai Nirun Sae-ueng, who made a 69, and Aussie Jake Stirling, who shot another 68.

Forty others made the 50-plus cut at 142 with current local Order of Merit leader Miguel Tabuena barely pulling through with another 71 along with 10 others but ADT OOM pacesetter Hsieh Chi-hsien of Taiwan missed it by one despite a 69 for a 143.

Pagunsan, 37, actually kept a bogey-free round for the first 36 holes of the championship co-organized by the Asian Development Tour and Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. although his opening 69 proved to be mediocre by his own standards that put him in joint 24th in a low-scoring start Wednesday.

“I was actually hitting it really well since yesterday (first round) but my putting was great today (yesterday),” said Pagunsan, who made just 24 putts to complement his superb all-around game.

Though he rammed in four birdies at the front for a 32, Pagunsan, out to atone for his so-so joint 15th finish in last week’s ICTSI Classic, his first local tournament in two-and-a-half years, hardly moved up to seventh as Gialon grabbed the clubhouse lead at nine-under 133 with that 63 with Que stalking Gialon with an opening 33.

But the three-time Asian Tour winner Que lost his putting touch at the back with just one birdie but remained upbeat of his crack at a first ADT win and the top $17,500 purse.

“I missed five birdie chances but it really happens,” rued Que, who nevertheless remained in the hunt at 133 with Gialon. “The nice thing about my poor putting is that I didn’t stray too far from the leader.”

Pagunsan went straight to the range after turning in his scorecard, priming up for a keenly awaited duel with Petchkasem and Que in the last group today.

Jay Bayron shot a 70 to lead the 137 scorers at 15th with Aussie Mark Leich, American Sejun Yoo and Clyde Mondilla, who also carded 70s, Joenard Rates and Robert Pactolerin, who shot identical 69s.