Juvic Pagunsan whoops it up as he holds the ICTSI Negros trophy after nipping Jobim Carlos on the second playoff hole.

 
BACOLOD – Dragged into a playoff by the young but talented Jobim Carlos, Juvic Pagunsan showed poise and class that have won him numerous titles and accolades here and abroad.

Outdriven by Carlos on the second extra hole on the par-4 No. 1, Pagunsan didn’t mind and struck a solid wedge shot from 60 yards to within five feet on the second extra hole and made the putt. He then watched Carlos muff his own birdie bid from nine feet to clinch the victory in the ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club course here yesterday.

“That was my plan and because I made a great approach from 60 yards, it put more pressure on Jobim,” said the multi-titled Pagunsan, who yielded some 10 yards to his 25-year-old rival off the mound.

“It was an inspiring win,” said Pagunsan, who was actually coming off an ACL injury that has hampered his campaign on the lucrative Japan PGA Tour, his base the last few years. He closed out with a 67 for a nine-under 271 total, which Carlos matched with a 68 on a birdie-par-birdie windup.

The victory, worth P650,000, also proved memorable as the former Asian Tour No. 1 marked his return to the ICTSI-sponsored Philippine Golf Tour on a winning note after a 20-month absence and he did it on the very course he calls home and where he crowned himself the national amateur champion in 2006.

He appeared headed to wrap it up in regulation after shaking off Korean Kim Joo Hyung early and then going 2-up over Carlos with a clutch birdie on No. 14 coupled with Carlos’ bogey on the next.

A winner many times over, Juvic Pagunsan still considers his ICTSI Negros victory a gem of a win.

 
But the recent Apo leg winner refused to crack under tremendous pressure and came through with that fiery windup that didn’t only stun Pagunsan but also impressed the big gallery expecting a romp by their hometown hero.

Playoff.

But after both parred the par-5 18th, Pagunsan used his experience and opted for a rather conservative play off the No. 1 tee, hacking out a superb approach shot then banging in the pressure-packed, title-clinching birdie putt.

Carlos said it was a best decision to outhit Pagunsan, only he didn’t get the result he had wanted off his approach shot that landed nine feet off the cup.

“I went on an aggressive stance because that’s how Juvic plays. I have to match his. But I hit a rather bad stroke on the green,” said Carlos, who pocketed P430,000 and kept his impressive run after scoring a breakthrough at PGT Asia Riviera and at PGT Apo last month.

More than anything, however, Carlos relished the rare chance to be paired and held his ground against Pagunsan.

“Juvic hits consistent short game shots and that’s I think what I should do,” said Carlos.

Juvic Pagunsan (second from left) holds his trophy as he poses with low amateur Gab Manotoc (second from right), Philippine Golf Tour executive director Narlene Soriano (left) and Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club president Jomarie Limjap after ruling the ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic on the second playoff hole over Jobim Carlos last Saturday.

 
Jhonnel Ababa pulled within one with a cluster of birdies at the front and stayed within striking distance with another birdie on the 16th. Needing to birdie the closing hole to join the playoff, the recent PGT Asia Forest Hills leg winner ended up with a bogey instead and dropped to third at 273 after a 67. He pocketed P240,000.

Halfway leader Zanieboy Gialon also fought back with birdies on Nos. 4 and 5 to close to within one off Pagunsan but bogeyed Nos. 8 and 9 and wound up with a 70 for fourth at 275 while Kim, 16, got some harsh lessons on handling final round pressure with Pagunsan, limping with a three-over 73 and dropping to fifth at 277.

Anthony Fernando rallied with a 67 to tie for sixth with American Pete Vilairatana and Elmer Salvador, who both carded 70s, and Elmer Salvador, who stumbled with a 71, at 278.

Nilo Salahog also bounced back with a 69 while Ramil Bisera matched par 70 as they pooled 280s and finished tied for 10th in the second of four tournaments making up the Visayan swing of the circuit backed by BDO, KZG, Custom Clubmakers, Meralco, Sharp, Champion, Summit Mineral Water and PLDT.