Push Admin

Olympics: PH’s Juvic Pagunsan impresses, as men's golf opens play

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/afp/07/30/pagunsan.jpg"/><figcaption>Pagunsan walks with his caddie in Round 1 of men&#x27;s Olympic golf at the Kasumigaseki Country Club in Kawagoe on July 29, 2021. <em>Yoshihiro Iwamo, AFP</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>Juvic Pagunsan carded a 5-under 66 on Thursday, 3 shots behind Austria’s Sepp Straka for an impressive start to the Filipino golfer’s campaign at the Olympics in Tokyo. </p><p>Pagunsan, a 10-year veteran at the Japan Golf Tour, was playing Kasumigaseki Country Club for the first time. </p><p>But he was comfortable at the par-71 course that was softened by an overnight thunderstorm. </p><p>He was at under-3 total at the 11th hole, before proceeding with birdies on the 13th and the 16th for a flawless back 9. </p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/sports/07/29/20210729-pagunsan-rank.jpg?ext=.jpg"/></figure></div><p>A bogey on par-3 No. 4 was the only blemish on his card. </p><p>Locked in fifth spot were Pagunsan, Venezuela&#x27;s Jhonattan Vegas, and Denmark&#x27;s Joachim B. Hansen. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/06/15/21/golfers-have-realistic-chance-to-make-podium-in-tokyo-olympics">Golfers have &#x27;realistic chance&#x27; to make podium in Tokyo Olympics</a></li></ul><p>Pagunsan is the second Filipino man to qualify for the Olympics, and he hopes to top Miguel Tabuena’s showing at Rio 2016 where Tabuena finished a 7-over 291. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/07/29/21/olympic-golf-first-round-suspended-over-lightning">Olympic golf first round suspended over lightning</a></li></ul><p>Meanwhile, Straka upstaged a slew of golf&#x27;s biggest names to take a 1-shot lead in a sweltering opening round as home hero Hideki Matsuyama battled to stay in touch after a recent brush with COVID-19.</p><p>Teeing off in the first group with his twin brother Sam carrying his bag, 28-year-old Straka shot an Olympic record-equalling eight-under 63 at Kasumigaseki to be one stroke clear of Thailand&#x27;s Jazz Janewattananond.</p><p>Belgium&#x27;s Thomas Pieters and Mexican Carlos Ortiz were a stroke further back on six-under as headline acts Justin Thomas (71) and Rory McIlroy (69) labored on an oppressive day marred by a long suspension due to the threat of lightning.</p><p>Straka was cooling off in the clubhouse before the two-hour 20-minute break was called, and savoring a return to form after a dire period on the U.S. PGA Tour.</p><p>Masters champion Matsuyama, carrying Japan&#x27;s medal hopes on his shoulders after recently recovering from COVID-19, shot a 69 to be six off the pace but said he felt the lingering effects of his illness as he ran out of gas on the back nine. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/07/21/21/filipino-olympian-profile-golfer-juvic-proves-never-too-late-to-fulfill-games-dreams">Filipino Olympian profile: Golfer Juvic proves never too late to fulfill Games dreams</a></li></ul><p>Matsuyama had four birdies in his first eight holes before bogeys on nine and 11 stalled him.</p><p>In such a golf-mad nation, Matsuyama deserved a crowd but the lack of spectators due to COVID-19 made for a surreal atmosphere.</p><p>Volunteers held up &quot;quiet&quot; signs to patches of vacant grass and British Open champion Collin Morikawa (69) called &quot;fore&quot; somewhat needlessly as he sprayed a shot into trees on the first.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/30/21/golf-juvic-pagunsan-wins-mizuno-open">Golf: Juvic Pagunsan rules Mizuno Open in Japan</a></li></ul><p>American Morikawa was hardly alone in having to hack his way out of the thick Zoysia grass thriving off the fairways. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/07/29/21/yuka-saso-tokyo-2021-golf-feature">Golfer Yuka Saso to dedicate Tokyo Games performance to family</a></li></ul><p>Others had little pay on the greens, including Thomas. The American was a picture of torment after none of his birdie putts fell in an astonishing round of 18 pars. <strong>— With a report by Toshiki Hashimoto, Reuters </strong></p><div><em>For breaking news and latest developments on the Summer Olympics in Tokyo, visit <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/tokyo-olympics">https://news.abs-cbn.com/tokyo-olympics</a></em></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1737155" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

<p>Juvic Pagunsan carded a 5-under 66 on Thursday, 3 shots behind Austria’s Sepp Straka for an impressive start to the Filipino golfer’s campaign at the Olympics in Tokyo.</p>

Juvic Pagunsan carded a 5-under 66 on Thursday, 3 shots behind Austria’s Sepp Straka for an impressive start to the Filipino golfer’s campaign at the Olympics in Tokyo.