Juvic Pagunsan of the Philippines underlined his intention to contend for his second JGTO title of the season when he fired a superb eight-under-par 64, sharing the halfway stage lead with defending champion Mikumu Horikawa at the MynaviABC Championship on Friday.
The 45-year-old, who previously won the Golf Partner Pro-Am Tournament in May, produced eight birdies at the ABC Golf Club, finishing with a total score of 13-under 131.
Related: Keita Nakajima surges into early lead at ABC Championship
Horikawa matched his performance by brilliantly birdieing eight of his last 11 holes.
Overnight leader Keita Nakajima managed three birdies against two bogeys for a modest 69, tying for third place with Taisei Sato (67), while South Africa’s Shaun Norris dominated the course with a scintillating, bogey-free 61, courtesy of two eagles, securing a solo fifth place.
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The consistently strong Song Young-han of South Korea and Australian veteran Brad Kennedy both shot 69 and 67, respectively, tying for sixth with 134 and ninth with 135, ensuring a strong international presence in the top-10.
Delighted, Pagunsan attributed his solid performance to his putting.
“My putting, in particular, felt exceptionally good. All in all, I’m quite pleased with how things went,” said Pagunsan, who has two JGTO victories under his belt.
Pagunsan said that he hasn’t been able to build on his May victory due to an injury sustained during training. However, with the trouble now behind him, he’s eager to contend once more.
“I wasn’t in the best form due to an injury near my left hip. I had hurt myself while training to increase my driving distance. Nevertheless, thanks to my consistent training, I managed to gain around 10 yards in distance,” said Pagunsan.
“I’m feeling quite confident. If an opportunity arises, I’m eager to grasp it and aim for victory.”
With a mere two-shot deficit, Norris, rejuvenated after a short stint back home, aspires to channel the inspiration from his nation’s recent Rugby World Cup triumph and replicate that success on the JGTO as he pursues his seventh title.
“Today, I believe I achieved a score that nobody would complain about. My putting was also good, and I truly feel that I played exceptionally well today,” said Norris, who last won the Japan Open in 2021.
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“Among all the courses where tournaments are held throughout the year, ABC’s greens are the best in terms of quality.
“After the Japan Open, I returned home and stayed for about two weeks. I got to meet my family, relax, and continue my training there, which I believe contributed to today’s result.
“I went to a pub with friends, and we all watched the Rugby World Cup game together. The victory of our national rugby team was inspiring. As a fellow countryman, I’m proud.”
Brimming with confidence and aided by familiarity with the course, Horikawa is ready to up the ante as he seeks to become the first player to secure consecutive tournament victories since Shingo Katayama in 2006.
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“I’m in a good position, and I feel like I have good chemistry with this course. Over the two days, the only bogey was yesterday on the 10th hole due to a three-putt,” said Horikawa.
“There haven’t been any stray shots, and things are going according to my management. I won’t change anything for tomorrow.”
Leading second round scores:
131: Mikumu Horikawa 67-64, Juvic Pagunsan (Phi) 67-64;
132: Taihei Sato 65-67, Keita Nakajima 63-69;
133: Shaun Norris (Rsa) 72-61;
134: Song Young-han (Kor) 65-69, Yuta Ikeda 68-66, Ryo Katsumata 65-69;
135: Yosuke Tsukada 66-69, Eric Sugimoto 70-65, Yuki Inamori 70-65, Brad Kennedy (Aus) 68-67.
