Juvic rejoins tour as PGT unfolds

BACOLOD , Philippines — Juvic Pagunsan hopes to make the most of his rare stint on the Philippine Golf Tour, eager to mark his comeback with a victory on the very course where he nurtured his game and won the Philippine Amateur crown in 2006.

The smooth-swinging ace, who has made the Japan PGA Tour his base the last few years, is on a break from the lucrative circuit and on the roster of the P3.5 million ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic, which gets going today at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club course.

Pagunsan last saw action in The  Country Club Invitational last year, losing to Miguel Tabuena by one in a thrilling final round duel. He last won in 2015 in the Aboitiz Invitational, beating Thai Nirun Sae-ueng by eight at Manila Southwoods.

Despite his long absence on the ICTSI-sponsored local circuit, which he also dominated in its early staging, the former Asian Tour Order of Merit champion, who hails from nearby Murcia town, is expected to crowd the big guns and tour veterans for top honors this week.

He drew a late tee-time of 11:30 a.m. on No. 1 in the company of Jama Reyes and Japanese Yu Ikeda but is nevertheless tipped to flash his local knowledge of the tree-lined, hazard-laden course.

But the stellar international field is unfazed by his presence with young Justin Quiban all focused on nailing a second straight diadem in the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. after dominating the field in the Bacolod Golf Challenge last week.

“I hope I can do it back-to-back,” said the 22-year-old shotmaker, who beat veteran and multi-titled Jay Bayron by five at the Binitin layout. “I know I can measure up with the best and I’m in good shape.”

He tees at 7:10 a.m., also on No. 1, with Albin Engino and James Ryan Lam.

Meanwhile, American Lexus Keoninh served notice of his title bid as he led his team composed of amateurs Santino Tabora, Nicolo Torre and Angelo Uichico to the pro-am crown with an 18-under 52, edging Engino’s team of Tess Mendell, Ma. Fe Benedicto and Jhay Broad by one.