AS OF last Friday, Negrense golfer Juvic Pagunsan, a protégé of the Bacolod Golf and Country Club in Binitin, Murcia, stretched his early three-shot lead to five with only one round left in the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour’s Apo Classic at the Apo Golf and Country Club course in Davao City and appeared clearly closing in on his first title in the revived local pro tour.

The 30-year-old 2007 Scoop Bacolod awardee for golf continued to dominate his rivals with accurate driving and superb iron play, stringing nines of 34-35 to come up with a 36-hole aggregate of 135.

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Reports Friday said with a five stroke lead over closest pursuer Jerome Delariarte, and barring any major disaster along the way, Pagunsan was already close to bringing home the top prize of P200,000 in the 54-hole event that serves as the third leg of the 10-stage circuit sponsored by the International Container Terminal Services Inc.

“It feels good to be on a winning mood, but it’s not over until it’s over,” Pagunsan told covering sports reporters in an interview Friday. “The field is too talented and no one can afford to be overconfident at any stage in the tournament.”

Delariarte, who finished behind amateur Rufino Bayron in the Valley leg of last year’s three-stage ICTSI-RP Tour, matched Pagunsan’s three-under card output, rallying with a two-under 34 on his homeward trip at the front to pool a 140.

Pagunsan took a break from his stint in the Asian pro tour to see action in this year’s ICTSI event.

Published in the Sun.Star Bacolod newspaper on July 4, 2009.