Pagunsan prepares to go one better

Filipino rising star Juvic Pagunsan is aiming to charm the Fanling galleries once more at this week’s UBS Hong Kong Open, a year after he became the people’s hero.

Pagunsan emerged as the surprise package in last year’s edition when he chased down eventual winner Jose Manuel Lara of Spain before settling for second place at the revered Hong Kong Golf Club.

A year on, the sweet-swinging Filipino is returning to Hong Kong as an Asian Tour champion where his confidence has skyrocketed following a career breakthrough triumph in Indonesia three weeks ago.

“I feel good about my game and I am happy with my form. I will try to better my 2006 performance as I am eager to aim for a second win this season. It’s going to be a very exciting week for me in Hong Kong,” said Pagunsan.

Last year, the slightly-built Filipino charged into contention and became an instant hit with the local galleries, thanks to his smiling disposition, laidback nature and graceful golf swing.

He led twice on the back nine on Sunday before making an error on the 16th hole to allow Lara to clinch victory.

That performance helped Pagunsan lift the Asian Tour’s Rookie of the Year award and he was expected to build on that performance in 2007. However, a shoulder injury early in the year saw him struggle with his form before he finally came good at the Pertamina Indonesia President Invitational last month.

Needing an eagle at the last to win, the Filipino responded to the challenge by launching an exquisite six iron to set up a seven-foot eagle putt which he duly converted. “I played well in Indonesia and this is what I’ve been waiting for in my career,” he said.

“I am looking forward to the UBS Hong Kong Open. The course was great last year. The greens were firm and I played really well. The key was my putting which led to my strong finish.

“I holed some putts from outside the green throughout the week which was nice.”

Lara will be back to defend his crown against an illustrious field which includes Major champions Retief Goosen of South Africa and Canadian Mike Weir. Other big names competing in the UBS Hong Kong Open, which starts on Thursday, include Korea’s Choi Kyung-ju, Australian Stuart Appleby and South African Trevor Immelman.

China’s Liang Wen-chong will continue his pursuit for the prestigious UBS Order of Merit crown at a venue which saw him win a kilogram worth of gold bar courtesy of -UBS at last year’s championship following a hole-in-one on the last day.

“It will be tough in Hong Kong because there will be some world class players taking part, but I will be doing my best and my victory in Singapore has given me a lot of confidence,” said Liang, who won the Clariden Leu Singapore Masters in March and is leading the UBS Order of Merit race with earnings of US$495,150.

November 12, 2007

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