Pagunsan looking to forget injury and missed cuts in Samui

Filipino talent Juvic Pagunsan has put the past behind him as he returns with renewed strength at the Bangkok Airways Open which starts on Thursday.

Pagunsan, 29, has been plagued by an injury to his left shoulder since January but after a slow and steady journey to recovery, the Filipino talent has gained renewed confidence ahead of the challenges at Koh Samui.

But he will be faced with an uphill battle at the Santiburi Samui Country Club with the presence of Thai stalwarts Thongchai Jaidee and Thaworn Wiratchant, in-form Indian ace Gaurav Ghei, Malaysia’s Airil Rizman Zahari and Singapore’s Mardan Mamat.

The Manila-born Pagunsan made headlines last year with an impressive run chalking up four top-10 results and ended the season in seventh place on the Asian Tour’s UBS Order of Merit. The ever-smiling Filipino was also voted the 2006 Asian Tour’s Rookie of Year.

Pagunsan had previously dominated the amateur scene in 2005. He had clinched two gold medals at the 2005 Manila Southeast Asian Games before joining the professional rank in 2006.

But the start of the season in 2007 took on a different direction as he has already missed the cut in four out of the eight tournaments competed so far.

“It has been a very testing period for me. I feel disappointed not being able to live up to the expectations that I’ve set for myself after a superb season in 2006,” admitted Pagunsan, who posted a top-20 finish in Koh Samui last year.

“I injured my left shoulder in Qatar early this year while digging out of the heavy rough. I have been struggling to recover ever since. The injury has affected my swing tremendously and that has been the main reason why my form has dipped this year,” he said.

Pagunsan is currently ranked 72nd on the UBS Order of Merit but he is now confident that he will make a steady rise when he faces off in the US$300,000 event this week.

“My game has been good the past two weeks. I have been taking it slow and not pushing myself and finally, the signs are showing as I’m swinging it much better. I’ve been doing stretching exercises and with the help of the physiotherapists, I am much better now,” he said.

Pagunsan realises that it will not be an easy task playing at the Santiburi Samui Country Club which is dubbed by many as the “Beast of Samui” but the Filipino will take it a step at a time hoping to nail his first top-10 finish of the season.

“I will aim high this week hoping to make it into the top-10. I can feel that my game is coming together. I would also hope to seal my spot for next season, so it’s time I start delivering good results,” added Pagunsan.

Local talent Chawalit Plaphol will be back on course to defend his title against Chinese Taipei’s Lu Wen-teh who finished in the top-five last year.

The Bangkok Airways Open is the 16th leg of this season’s Asian Tour Schedule which is offering 29 tournaments with a total prize purse of over US$28 million.

June 5, 2007

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