Veteran golfer Juvic Pagunsan opened Philippine golf’s Tokyo 2020 Olympics campaign in high spirits as he nailed a joint fifth finish in the first round of the men’s golf event on Thursday, July 29, at the Kasumigaseki Golf and Country Club in Saitama,

Despite the tournament’s brief suspension due to lighting and inclement weather in the back nine, Pagunsan remained consistent as he fired three birdies to tally a five-under par 66 at the end of 18 holes.

The Filipino shared fifth place with Denmark’s Joachim Hansen and Venezuela’s Jhonattan Vegas.

Austria’s Sepp Straka led the 60-player field after completing the first round with an impressive 63 on Thursday morning.

Pagunsan opened his campaign with a birdie right in the first hole and made five more after he bogeyed the fourth.

The Bacolod native is the oldest member of the Philippine delegation at 43 years old, but has been on a hot momentum as he claimed the 2021 Mizuno Open with a three-stroke margin. 

He also qualified for the 2021 British Open, but he opted out due to scheduling conflicts with the Olympics.

Pagunsan hopes to bank on his veteran experience as a former Asian Tour top earner and he has also been playing in the professional Japan Golf Tour since 2012. – Rappler.com