Pagunsan captures Order of Merit plum

JUVIC  Pagunsan snatched the Order of Merit award in incredible fashion as he did so in spite missing the last six legs in the 2011 ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour.

With four victories in the first nine legs of the circuit, including the rich ICTSI Orchard Championship last May, Pagunsan amassed enough earnings to cushion the impact of his suspension due to misconduct at Aboitiz Invitational in Cebu last September.

Piling up winnings of P1,474,604, Pagunsan closed out the season on top of the heap, atoning for his last year’s fold-up when he yielded the coveted crown to Jay Bayron in the final leg at ICTSI Canlubang.

This time, he went to work early, winning the kickoff leg of the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc. at Royal Northwoods, topping the P2.5 million Orchard tilt, adding the Eastridge crown then annexing the Apo leg title for the third straight year.

The smooth-swinging Bacolod find is also set to crown himself Asia’s No. 1 as he leads the OOM race on the Asian Tour with two legs left on the strength of his runner-up finish in the Singapore Open early this month, where he pocketed a whopping $666,660 (roughly P28 million), the biggest earning recorded by any Filipino golfer in one tournament.

The Calatagan Golf and Country Club, host of the 13th leg, was also named the circuit’s top course with Zanie Boy Gialon winning the top amateur honors.

Elmer Salvador, winner of the OOM title in the revival of the pro tour in 2009, settled for second with P1,049,919, his bid to regain the crown hampered by his decision to campaign abroad after posting a record 12-shot romp at ICTSI Sherwood.  /Correspondent Jonas Panerio