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Sunday, December 18, 2005
Golds from the fairways
By Charles Raymond A. Maxey
* Pagunsan powers RP shotmakers to huge wins
IT WAS a historic campaign for the Philippines in the 23rd Southeast Asian Games. For the first time since joining the biennial meet in 1977, the country finished on top after hauling 113 golds, 84 silvers and 94 bronzes in a show of might right from the opening up to the final day of competition.
It was a wire-to-wire victory for the Filipino athletes, making them the newest sports kings and queens in the region, and relegating perennial winners Thailand and Malaysia to the background.
Two of those golds came from the Pinoy golfers, who set the course ablaze at the exclusive Country Club in Laguna with superb shotmaking specially from the ever-reliable national mainstay Juvic Pagunsan.
Pagunsan fired a sizzling five-under-par 65 in the final round to win the individual title and power the Filipinos to the team gold.
Pagunsan was coming off a course-record 64 in the third round to emerge runaway winner in the individual golf battle. He clinched the title by 14 strokes over Thai Waisayakul Ekalak.
The previous course record in this member-only club is 65 set by former national mainstay Angelo Que.
Pagunsan won the gold in 2001 SEAG but failed to defend it in Vietnam two years later when he host nation scrapped the event.
Aside from Pagunsan, the other stars for Team Philippnes in the final day were Michael Eric Bibat, Jay Bayron, and Marvin Dumandan.
The country finished at seven-under-par 833, 17 strokes better than that silver medalist Singapore. Myanmar settled for the bronze with 856.
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (December 18, 2005 issue)
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