Only a miraculous performance from his surviving pursuers in Sunday's final round stands in the way of Pagunsan's history-making feat as the Filipino golfer continued to make headway in this $2.7 million event.
Pagunsan shot a two-under-par 68 Saturday, matching his first round output, and his four-under total of 206 put him in a tie for 11th and a chance to move up or, if the golf gods would smile on him, perhaps win the tournament.
Pagunsan is just six shots behind leader Alvaro Quiros of Spain who is at 10 under and has 17 players tied or ahead of him after three rounds. "If my front nine will be good and the others falter," Pagunsan said, "I'll gamble my shots and go for it." Indeed, Pagunsan had on more than one occasion showed his penchant for adventure on the golf course, hitting drivers or three wood off the tee when lesser clubs would suffice, to test fate.
On two occasions Saturday, his gamble paid off. He used a 3-wood on the 288-yard par 4 third, overshot the green and made an up-and-down birdie.
It was another gamble on the 388-yard par 4 9th where he used a driver and overshot the green guarded by a water hazard front and left. His ball was saved by a bunker from where he blasted to within 10 feet and converted for birdie.
His back nine was a roller coaster. He alternated bogeys with birdies. He bogeyed 10th, 13th and 15th, all from missed greens, but birdied the 12th, 14th and 16th holes. He also birdied the 3rd and 9th holes.
Overall, Pagunsan called his day a "good one." He admitted it could have been better but his driver and approach shots were not consistent.
"I really like to take risky shots," he said, noting that his bogeys were the result of misfired shots. But he relished the fact that's his kind of game and he will win or lose with that attitude.
By DING MARCELO
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