Daily Tribune

SPORTS

Pagunsan rides on eagle to reach T5

American superstar Brooks Koepka is T9 after a 67 on Saturday for 209.

DAILY TRIBUNE · Nov 19, 2023, 12:09 AM

AMERICAN star Brooks Koepka hits a four-under-par 67 for joint ninth place entering the final round in Japan. | CLIFF HAWKINS/AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

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.