Four Pinoy aces open bid in rich Singapore Open

MANILA, Philippines – Juvic Pagunsan, Angelo Que, Tony Lascuña and Miguel Tabuena set out in separate flights against some of the world’s top players, each looking for a strong start in the rich Singapore Open firing off today at the Sentosa Golf Club.

Pagunsan drew a late start at 1:30 p.m. on No. 1 alongside Taiwanese Lin Wen-tang and Pariya Junhasavasdikul of Thailand, raring to make up for his play-off loss in the 2011 edition of the $1 million event, bannered by world No. 1 Jordan Spieth.

“I really had the chance to win the Singapore Open then but didn’t complete the job. But it’s nice to be back after such a long time and hopefully this time, I can do better,” said Pagunsan, who despite the loss still pocketed one of his biggest career prize money wins that netted him the Order of Merit crown.

Que, a three-time Asian Tour winner, tees off in a flight ahead of Pagunsan in the company of Japanese Kodai Ichihara and Thai Thanyakon Khrongpha while Lascuña is grouped with Aussie Scott Barr and Toshinori Muto of Japan in the 8:10 a.m. flight, also on No. 1.

Tabuena, on the other hand, starts at No. 10 at 8:10 a.m. with Japan’s Katsumasa Miyamoto and SSP Chawrasia of India, relishing the challenge of competing against some of the world’s top players.

“My game is good and I’m happy with where I’m right now. I know I’m capable of competing with the best. It’s nice to have Jordan Spieth here and hopefully my game will show up this week,” said the 21-year-old Tabuena, who expressed hopes of having Spieth for company if he progresses into the weekend round.

“Hopefully I will be paired with Jordan during the third or fourth round. My coach has told me to try to beat Jordan Spieth and if I can do that, it’ll be a good result,” said Tabuena.

Meanwhile, Spieth and Korea’s K.T. Kim, two of the hottest players in world golf in 2015, will duel over the opening two rounds.

Spieth won five times last year, including the US Open and Masters, while Kim also had five victories on the Japan Golf Tour during a banner 2015.

They tee-off on No. 10 at 7:50 a.m.

Spieth’s success in 2015 was largely due to his extraordinary touch on the greens while Kim is also known as a wizard with the putter and their contest on Serapong’s fast, tricky surfaces will be an intriguing one.

Joining them in a tasty-looking three ball will be Yusaku Miyazato, who finished second to Kim in the 2015 Japan Golf Tour Order of Merit.