Pagunsan Happy to Return
Juvic Pagunsan is targeting a second triumph at the US$400,000 Indonesia President Invitational this week at the venue which launched him to fame two years ago.
Source: Asian Tour
The Filipino rising star is happy to return to the scene of his maiden Asian Tour title at Damai Indah Golf – Bumi Serpong Damai (BSD) course, which saw him produce a stunning birdie, eagle finish for a one-shot victory.
The third edition of the Indonesia President Invitational, which starts on Thursday, marks the resumption of the Tour’s second half of the season. Australian Scott Hend, who won the title at the Pantai Indah Kapuk course last year, will defend his crown where other top stars include Korea’s Bae Sang-moon, Singaporean veteran Mardan Mamat and Australian Adam Blyth, all ranked in the top-10 of the Order of Merit.
“It’s nice to come back here. I hit it well in practice yesterday and in today’s pro-am and hopefully I can try to win it again. The course is a bit different though as the greens are new and they have more undulation. If you miss them on the wrong side, it’s a tough shot,” said the 31-year-old Pagunsan.
Pagunsan pipped India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar to the inaugural title in 2007 with his magical finish but he has yet to replicate the shots so far this week. “I remember that birdie, eagle finish. I tried to hit it good again in the last two holes in the pro-am but I didn’t make it. In fact, I found water twice on the 18th!,” said Pagunsan, who has registered two top-10s and three top-25s this season.
“I’ve got lots of confidence being back here. I’ve nearly kept my card for next season and I’ll try to play good for the second half of the season. I’m thinking of a win this week.”
Three years has passed since Mardan’s famous home triumph at the Singapore Masters and the 41-year-old is itching to get back into the winner’s enclosure. Tied eighth finishes at the Enjoy Jakarta Indonesia Open and Ballantine’s Championship in Korea have pushed him up to ninth place on the Order of Merit and with his 2010 card already secured, Mardan plans to free-wheel his game towards a third career title.
“I’m feeling good. I’ve been practising a lot back home and I’ve gained some confidence in my game. I’m feeling quite fresh, both mentally and physically, after a nice break. It’s a matter of making a lot of putts, hopefully I can do it this week,” said Mardan.
“Now that I’ve kept my card for next year, you don’t have so much pressure. It’s been a long time since I last won. I’ve had a few injuries here and there but I feel better now.”
Blyth, who ranks 10th on the merit list, is desperate to end his title drought in Asia after accumulating 13 career top-10s over the past five seasons. “Hopefully a win will come along when it’s ready. Maybe I’ve pushed too hard and I’ll just try to let it happen. I think that’s where I’ve gone wrong in the past where I had wanted it too much,” said the 27-year-old.
Blyth and his father-cum-caddie Stephen took extended time off to visit Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Dubai during the summer break but are raring to get into tournament mode again. “I’ve been practising really hard over the last three weeks and I’m ready to go. I’m ready to get back into the heat again,” said Blyth.
Malaysia’s Iain Steel returns to the Indonesia President Invitational where he hopes to make up for last year’s disappointment where he entered the final round tied for the lead but finished sixth.
“I’ve had a slow start to the year and I’m not proud of it. I missed the cuts in the big ones, which I don’t normally do and I want to try to gain some consistency. It’s a bomber’s paradise again this week where the par fours are quite long and par fives are quite short. If you can putt well and hit it long, it will play into your favour,” he said.
The Indonesia President Invitational is supported by main sponsors Pertamina and Qatar Telecoms. Other co-sponsors include Indosat, Middle East Coal and Panasonic, and its partner sponsors are Ancora Indonesia Resources, Bormindo, Carlsberg, Coffee Bean, Evian, Garuda Indonesia, Golf Digest, Hotel Mulia, MNK, Pin High, Prestige, Ramsay Health Care, RICOH, Srixon, TAG Heuer, The Flag, and Toyota.
The Indonesia President Invitational tournament is sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Indonesian PGA (PGPI) and organised by the Indonesian Golf Association (PGI).
For further information, please contact Asian Tour’s Chuah Choo Chiang or Doyle De Costa at the tournament media centre tel: +62 21 3093 4279. Also visit www.asiantour.com for Live Scoring this week.
Source: Asian Tour