Hong Kong Golf Open Bomber
Pucay bombs out of Hong Kong Open golf
Article posted November 15, 2009 – 09:25 AM
FANLING, Hong Kong — A day after contending for the title, Filipino Mars Pucay was nowhere near the leader as he suffered the worse score in three days heading into the final round of the $2.5-million UBS Hong Kong Open at the Hong Kong Golf Club.
Pucay’s 68 and 67 catapulted him to within four atop the board but a three-over-par 73 washed out all hopes of breaking through the win column. His 208 aggregate was way off the 16-under-par 194 of France’s Gregory Bourdy.
Leading third round scores
194 – Gregory Bourdy (FRA) 64-67-63
196 – Robert-Jan Derksen (NED) 63-68-65
199 – Rory Mcilroy (NIR) 66-68-65
200 – Miguel Angel Jimenez (ESP) 68-69-63
Francesco Molinari (ITA) 66-68-66
Peter Lawrie (IRL) 66-68-66
Lin Wen-tang (TPE) 64-69-67
208 – Juvic Pagunsan (67-70-71)
Mars Pucay (68-67-73)
Consider the facts: Pucay got a little adventurous at the par-three eighth hole where he missed the green completely en-route to a double bogey. Add to that, four bogeys on Nos. 6, 9, 14 and 17 as against three birdies on Nos. 7, 12 and 16.
His round was a far cry from the second day when he shot flawless three birdies and no bogey.
“It was probably the breaks of the game. Maybe I was too eager to score heavily today. Sayang,” Pucay said to GMANews.TV.
Like his countryman, Juvic Pagunsan also got off-tracked with a one-over-par 71 in the event which is Hong Kong’s oldest professional sporting event, having started in 1959. He was under-par for two days but now ties Pucay at 50th with 208.
Pagunsan, whose year is also devoid of any crown so far, began worst with three straight bogeys. Only his string of birdies on Nos. 12 and 13 saved him from sliding further in the standing.
“I was not in my element. There was nothing spectacular for me today except for those two birdies towards the end of the round,” said Pagunsan, a former Asian Tour rookie of the year.
On Friday, Filipinos Angelo Que, Artemio Murakami and Antonio Lascuna were all cut.
Frenchman ahead
Gourdy, the two-time European Tour winner, was just superb on Saturday when he submitted the day’s lowest score of seven-under-par 63 to post a two-stroke lead.
His three-day total 194 was two better than Netherlands’ Robert-Jan Derksen, who carded a five-under-par 65 to lie at second place with 196.
Bourdy ended the day in the same position from where he started. A place at the top was never in doubt after the Frenchman returned with an unblemished card that was highlighted by seven birdies.
“It was a fantastic round with seven birdies and no bogeys. I feel good on this course. I feel good in Hong Kong and I am enjoying the week. I’ll try and keep the putter warm for tomorrow as it was unbelievable today,” said Bourdy.
Northern Island’s Rory McIlroy was in third with 199 after a five-under 65 and lurked behind Bourdy and Derksen while defending champion Ling Wen-tang of China shared fourth with a 200 total. – Adrian Flores, GMANews.TV