Pagunsan flounders, tumbles to joint 10th

MANILA, Philippines - Juvic Pagunsan floundered in a late tee-time and hobbled with a three-over 75, dropping from second to joint 10th halfway through the PGA Championship Nissin Cupnoodles Cup still paced by Toru Tanaguchi in Tochigi, Japan yesterday.

After a flawless, eagle-spiked six-under 66 Thursday, Pagunsan could only hit one birdie on a challenging day and fumbled with four bogeys, including on Nos. 1 and 2 which he eagled and birdied on the first day.

He even scrambled for five pars to underscore his day-long struggle at the par-72 Karasuyamajo Country Club layout.

With a 141 aggregate, Pagunsan fell six shots behind Taniguchi, who slowed down with a 70 after a 65 for a 135, three strokes ahead of Keiichiro Fukabori, who had a 138 after a bogey-free 66.

Angelo Que, who opened with a decent 70, also faltered with a four-over 76 marred by a double bogey on No. 8 and three bogeys against a lone birdie.

Over in Thailand, Jay Bayron fired a three-under 69 to move within one off Thai Prom Meesawat in the second round of the Pattaya Open at the Burapha Golf and Resort in Pattaya.

Bayron birdied four of the first nine holes but failed to sustain his charge at the back and finished with 37 for a 138.

Gerald Rosales, who shared the first round lead with Meesawat with 67s, wavered with a 76 and tumbled down to joint 22nd at 143, six shots behind the Thai ace.