Juvic Pagunsan still at it, takes Riviera lead with 68

SILANG, Cavite, Philippines — From Bacolod, Negros and Iloilo and back here at Riviera, there seems to be no signs of slowing down for Juvic Pagunsan.

The region’s former No. 1 picked up from where he left off last June and took his familiar spot on the Philippine Golf Tour – on top – as he bested Clyde Mondilla and Angelo Que in the featured group with a three-under 68 to lead Dutch Guido Van der Valk and two other locals by one at the start of the ICTSI Riviera Classic at the Langer course here yesterday.

A delicate 10-foot putt for birdie on the ninth capped Pagunsan’s pair of 34s at the softened par-71 layout as he broke off a four-way tie to seize control of the 80-player field that battled through sun, rain and wind.

“It’s tough playing in the wind and rain,” said Pagunsan, on course for a record fourth win in a row after the sweeping the last three legs of the Visayan swing of the Philippine Golf Tour put up by ICTSI in Bacolod, Negros Occidental and Iloilo.

He added that this event could be his last on the local circuit this year as he is set to leave for Japan in two weeks to resume his campaign, along with Que, on the region’s richest tour.

“I placed second five times since 2015 so I hope to finally score my maiden win (in Japan) this year,” said Pagunsan, who reigned here in dominant fashion to nail his first PGT Asia leg win last March.

Obscure Rico Depilo birdied Nos. 15 and 16 to fire a 69 in preferred lies and tie Rupert Zaragosa and Van der Valk at second while 2016 champion Jay Bayron blew a three-under card after seven holes at the back with three bogeys against one more birdie in the next eight holes to slip to joint fifth at 70 with Art Arbole and Japanese Makoto Iwasaki.

“I was just lucky since it’s tough to score here with the rain and wind although the course is in good condition,” said Depilo, whose career best finish was seventh here last year. He made two other tap-in birdies that negated his two missed green bogeys.