MANILA – Negrense golfer Juvic Pagunsan concluded his decade-long wait for a Japan Open championship on Sunday after dominating the 2021 Mizuno Open at the JFE Setonankai Golf Course in Okayama, Japan.
Pagunsan survived a bogey-filled start in the third round to score 68, besting Japanese Ryutaro Nagano, who settled for a runner-up finish with 66.
Born in Murcia, Negros Occidental, the Filipino golfer started to join Japan-based golf tournaments in 2012. He was close to seizing the championship crown five times, including the 2012 Japan Open, where his campaign was hampered by bogies.
“It has been 10 years. It took me 10 years to win (the Japan Open). Now I am relieved that I have this one,” the teary-eyed Pagunsan said in a post-match interview.
Holding to a three-shot lead at 65 after the second round on Saturday, the 43-year-old Pagunsan struggled early on Sunday afternoon as he bogeyed on the first and third holes.
“I told myself I should get back on my feet. I told myself to relax a little, that there are still 15 more holes to go,” shared Pagunsan, describing his mindset following his erroneous start.
The Bacolodnon golfer managed to recover in the succeeding holes after he birdied in the 6th, 8th, and 9th. He secured the Mizuno Open championship by converting birdies on the 11th, 15th, and 16th holes.
With his championship feat, he got the top prize of Y12 million (P5,216,077.41) in the tournament.
Apart from the cash prize, Pagunsan also punched a ticket to the prestigious 2021 British Open slated from July 15 to 18 at Royal St. George’s Golf Course in Kent, England.
The Mizuno Open championship was a fitting follow up to the runner-up finish of Pagunsan in the Asia Pacific Diamond Cup in Kagayama, Japan, held two weeks ago./PN
