Juvic Pagunsan of the Philippines had it solid in the opening round of the men’s golf individual event at the Tokyo Olympic Games, finishing tied for fifth on Thursday at the Kasumigaseki Country Club.
Showing familiarity with the course and the conditions, being a staple in the Japan pro circuit, 43-year-old Pagunsan held steady throughout the bad weather-delayed first round to finish with a 5-under 66, joint fifth along with Joachim Hansen of Denmark and Jhonattan Vegas of Venezuela.
They are three strokes off current leader Sepp Straka of Austria, who finished with a bogey-free 8-under-par 63.
Second-running is Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand with a 64, followed by Belgium’s Thomas Pieters and Mexico’s Carlos Ortiz, who each had a 6-under 65.
The second round of the men’s individual stroke is set for Friday. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo
