Pagunsan shows old form to rule Riviera Classic

Silang, Cavite — The killer look was evident. The confidence was overwhelming. The old Juvic Pagunsan returned to form and ran away with the championship crown of the P1-million ICTSI Riviera Classic at the Riviera Golf Club. Pagunsan showed why he’s still on top of his game, carding a three-under-par 69 for a 208 haul in 54 holes at the Couples course to post a six-stroke win over veterans Danny Zarate and Richard Sinfuego. "My goal this week was to uplift my spirits and confidence. Coach Jun Cedo helped me achieved my goal," said Pagunsan, who won P200,000. It also aided Pagunsan, who made an eagle on the par-five No. 7 to highlight the final round, that Cedo put premium on his backswing. "Whereas before my backswing was a little too high, coach Jun corrected it by flattening it a little bit," said Pagunsan. It was Pagunsan’s third victory on the tour after ruling last year’s Apo and Canlubang legs last of the Philippine Golf Tour (PGT). The dusky Zarate, trailing Pagunsan, rallied with a 34 at the turn but managed only a two-under-par 70 (214 overall) for joint second with Sinfuego (74) in the PGT’s third leg. Sinfuego, whose hole-in-one at the eighth made news in the second round, was setback with a bogey on the fourth and sputtered at the back and missed grabbing solo second with a closing double-bogey. He had a 74 and split the combined P185,000 purse with Zarate. Orlan Sumcad turned in his second top five finish as he matched par 72 for a 215 and a share of fourth with Rey Pagunsan (73) and Gene Bondoc (73). ICTSI Royal-Northwoods winner Ferdie Aunzo also carded a 72 to tie Asian Tour regular Tony Lascuna, who had a 73, at seventh with 216 while Angelo Que failed to come back from a second round 75 and wound up joint ninth with Joel Opaco (69) and Elmer Saban (74) with 217. The victory should prop up Pagunsan’s confidence as he goes for back-to-back wins in next week’s ICTSI-Forest Hills Classic starting May 26 at the Forest Hills Golf Club in Antipolo. – JVP/Adrian Flores, GMANews.TV