Pagunsan posts second win in Japan Tour

Juvic Pagunsan nailed his second victory in the cash-rich Japanese Tour, closing with a four-under-par 66 in the Golf Partner pro-am tournament in Iberaki Prefecture in Japan on Sunday.

The 45-year-old Filipino finished the 72-hole contest on 23-under, two shots ahead of Japanese Taihei Sato and Taiga Semikawa who shot a 62 and 67, respectively.

The 45-year-old Filipino, who began the day with a one-shot lead, reached the turn on 2-under before knocking in four birdies against two bogeys to blow away his rivals.

Pagunsan made only five bogeys in four rounds while collecting 29 birdies.

The win was a belated birthday gift for Pagunsan who turned a year older 10 days ago. It came two years after his breakthrough win in the Gate Way to the Open Mizuno Open two years ago in Okayama.

Justin de los Santos, the other Filipino in the field, finished in a share of 14th on 15-under after a closing 63.

Sato made a great run of eight birdies to get a share of second place with Semikawa who birdied his final hole.

Semikawa, 22, gained prominence last season by winning the Panasonic Open and Japan Open titles as an amateur. He turned professional last November and won the Kasai Open.

Tied for fourth on 19-under were Yusaku Hosono and Yuki Inamori who shot a 63 and 67, respectively.