Golf Club in Fanling after a second round even par 70 and, for all intents and purposes, is now the Asian Tour Order of Merit winner.
His ascension as Asia's best was helped in no small measure by the meltdown of his closest challenger, India's SP Chowrasia, who bombed out with a two-round total of five-over par 145, and missed the cut. Told that Chowrasia missed the cut, Pagunsan said he was happy but that will not stop him playing the last stop of the Asian Tour.
"Maganda laro kaya dapat I should grab the opportunity," he said.
Indeed, the Filipino, who also captured the local tour's Order of Merit title last week despite sitting out the last three events to serve a tour-imposed suspension, has been playing very well, his season marked by a second place finish in the Singapore Open where he banked over $600,000 (about P28 million). He may not go anywhere near that payday, but his lead in the Order of Merit is likely to increase further although that would be unnecessary since the challenge has faded.
His par 70 enabled him to be in the mix as he stayed within five shots of the clubhouse leader after two rounds of the $2.7-million event jointly sanctioned by the Asian and European Tours. His 36-hole total of 138 put him tied for 10th at the moment although that may change as half of the field, led by Rory McIlroy, are still out on the course.
"Mas maganda sana laro," said Pagunsan. He said he squandered his two-under-par round with a three-put bogey on the 14th and after missing a five-footer or par on the 18th. He also bogeyed the sixth after missing the green.
His birdies, all inside 17 feet, were at the fourth, 10th and 11th holes. He blamed the weather for his up-and-down round as he wore a long-sleeved sweater throughout while most Europeans were in warm-weather attire. "Maginaw," he said. "Ang hirap mag-putt kasi halos di mo maramdaman yung putter.
Still, the Filipino No. 1 took care of his group, beating three-time major winner Padraig Harrington (70-71) who is on the cutline at one-over. The other player in his group, Thailand's Thaworn Wiratchant, was also one-over after 36 holes.
Antonio Lascuna fired his second straight 72 and at 144 may be headed home, while Mars Pucay is still out on the course and battling to stay for the weekend. But that's more than enough to secure him a weekend stint and further consolidation of his Asian Tour Order of Merit lead which is being challenged by India's SP Chowrasia.
But Chowrasia's chase may have come to an inglorious end here after he finished five over after 36 holes and missed the cut.
By DING MARCELO
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