Double victory for RP's Top Golf duo

Juvic Pagunsan

Filipino golfers Juvic Pagunsan and Frankie Miñoza bagged major golf titles in the Asian Tour and Japan Tour.

Pagunsan, last year's Asian Tour Rookie of the Year, eagled the final hole to win the Pertamina Indonesia President Invitational by one stroke over Indian Gaganjeet Bhullar while the veteran Miñoza defeated promising 20-year-old Korean Lee Dong-hwan in a playoff to triumph in the ABC Championship in Hyogo.

The 29-year-old Pagunsan, who came close to winning the UBS Hong Kong Open last season, recorded his first victory on the Asian Tour while the decorated Miñoza lifted his seventh title on the Japan Tour.

The double triumph ahead of the Barclays Singapore Open this weekend, dubbed the "Major of Asia," will inspire the Filipino duo as they take on an elite field that includes world No. 2 Phil Mickelson of the United States, two-time defending champion Adam Scott of Australia, three-time Major champion Ernie Els and former world No. 1 Vijay Singh and Korea's Choi Kyung-ju, a two-time winner on the PGA Tour this season.

Miñoza, who captured the Philippine Open crown at Wack Wack last February, shot a closing 70 to tie on 14-under-par 274 with Lee, who blitzed a bogey-free 66. The 47-year-old Miñoza clinched the title in sudden death and pocketed a check worth $210,000 or a whopping P9.2 million.

Frankie Miñoza

Meanwhile, reigning national amateur champion Anthony Fernando came away with a seven-birdie splurge and came up with a five-under par 67 at the Sentosa Golf Club to book a berth in the rich tournament.

The 24-year-old Fernando, spearhead of the ICTSI golf squad back home, finished with a 33-34 card to top the first of two qualifiers staged to select the last 10 players in the Singapore Open.

The top five players in each of the two-day elims will join the elite field in this week's tournament, considered as Asia's premier tournament.

Jay Bayron and Marvin Dumandan shot identical one-par 71s while Cassius Casas struggled with a two-over 74.

Asian Games bronze medalist Michael Bibat and Ferdie Aunzo, who shared fourth place with Fernando last week, get to see action today, both hoping to join Fernando into the tournament proper.