Juvic Pagunsan knocked in five of his six birdies in the back nine to shoot a bogey-free six-under-par 66 in the Panasonic Open golf championship at Ibaraki Country Club in Ibaraki, Osaka, Japan Friday.
The 44-year-old Filipino ace moved to 7-under 137, just four shots off Japanese clubhouse leader Katsumasa Miyamato who also shot a 66.
Pagunsan, who had an opening 71, birdied the first hole before stringing up four birdies to start the back nine. He added a birdie on 15. He missed three greens but saved par on each occasion.
Justin de los Santos, the other Filipino in the field, made five birdies against two bogeys to return a 70 and 139 total.
Miyamato also had six birdies in a bogey-free round to lead by one shot over a five-man chase pack made up of fellow Japanese Tomoharu Otsuki, Shugo Imahira, Tomoyo Ikemura, Yuto Katsuragawa and Yuki Inamori.
Meanwhile, Justin Quiban barged into the Top 20 of the Yeangder TPC Championship after sizzling for six-under-par 66 at the Linkou International Golf Club in Taiwan.
Quiban fired one eagle and five birdies against a lone bogey to bring his total to 5-under, six shots behind Thai Chapchai Nirat who shot a 64.
Miguel Tabuena needed only 26 putts to shoot a three-under-par 69 and improve to 3-under.
He birdied four of the first eight holes and bogeyed 9 to reach the turn on 3-under. He had one birdie against a bogey coming home.
Angelo Que staggered with a late double bogey on his way to 72 and a spot to the weekend play on 144.
Over in Indonesia, Rupert Zaragosa closed with one-under-par 71 to emerge as the best Filipino performer in the Combiphar Players Championship at the Parahyangan Golf Club.
The 25-year-old Filipino finished 72 holes on even par 288 following earlier rounds of 72-71-74. He came in joint 27th.
He birdied 4 and 17 against a lone bogey on 12.
Ira Alido, the only other Filipino who made the cut, improved to 3-over after firing a four-under-par 68.
Alido eagled 6 and made four birdies against two bogeys to get a share of 38th.
Thai Suteepat Prateeptienchai won the event on 15-under after a closing 68.
Two shots back was compatriot Chonlatit Chuenboonngam who carded a 72 while Australian Kade McBride settled for third on 12-under after a 72.
