Juvic Pagunsan made a dramatic breakthrough that saw him rise to a tie for fifth place after Saturday’s third round in the Dunlop Phoenix Tournament in Miyazaki, Japan.
He fired a three-under-par 68 to charge in the standings six shots from the leader entering the final round on Sunday in the 200-million-yen tournament.
The 45-year-old two-time Japan Tour champion eagled the Par-2 12 which he bogeyed during Thursday’s opening round that saw him scoring a 70.
He birdied Hole Nos. 7, 13, 16 and 18, to cushion the impact of his bogeys on the fifth, eighth and 14th for a three-day total of five-under 208.
Justin delos Santos scrambled a 76 to slide to a share of 36th with 214 total.
American superstar Brooks Koepka is T9 after a 67 on Saturday for 209.
Brad Kennedy of Australia held the clubhouse lead after a 67 for eight-under 205.
But it was Japanese Yuta Sugiura who is expected to end the day on top as he was just one-under through 16 holes in the third round. He is 11-under after two rounds.
