Munson ties record 64, moves ahead by 3

Lipa City, Philippines – In a duel of power, iron play and putting, Brett Munson and Juvic Pagunsan bucked the heat and matched Micah Shin’s record 64 fashioned out in opposite tee starts with the American storming ahead by three over the local ace halfway through the ICTSI Summit Point World 18 Challenge here yesterday.

As erstwhile leader Shin turned from flawless to flawed in a switch in tee-time and hobbled with a 74, Munson brandished a superb all-around game and took command with his own version of an eight-under card in morning play. It featured two back-to-back birdie feats and a three-birdie binge inside 16 feet for a pair of 32s and a 12-under 132.

Counting his opening 68, the 33-year-old ace from Maryland, who has been campaigning in various circuits in the region the last few years that netted him two victories, the last in Malaysia in 2017, moved 36 holes away from nailing a first championship on the Philippine Golf Tour Asia in two years.

“I putted well and that’s the key,” said Munson, also out to make up for a tied 35th finish in Aboitiz Invitational at Wack Wack last month and a joint 25th place effort in the CAT Open at Luisita last week.

“The course is really good and the weather just fine. I’m used to playing in this condition because I’ve competed in many tropical countries in Asia. So I can easily adjust,” said Munson, who once reached No. 446 in the Official World Golf Ranking.

But he will be as much tested in the last two days as Pagunsan and Jhonnel Ababa, who assembled identical 135s, with the former barely missing setting a new course record with a flubbed birdie putt from close range in his finishing hole on No. 9. He ended up shooting the third 64, also in bogey-free fashion, in the $100,000 event closing out the third season of the circuit put up by ICTSI.

Holder of a record four-title romp in row in the PGT in June and August and winner of PGT Asia Riviera last March, Pagunsan came out smoking after a mediocre opening 71, hitting three birdies at the back then scorching the frontside with five birdies, highlighted by four straight from No. 2.