Priceless moment for Pagunsan

Juvic Pagunsan was among the big-name stars that were clearly missing after one round of the US$300,000-rich Solaire Open at Wack Wack Golf and Country Club’s east course.

Pagunsan did not get injured or even missed the cut at 65, instead, the 2011 Asian Tour Order of Merit winner had to rush beside his wife Len, who is due to give birth to their second child.

The 34-year-old veteran golfer called Asian Tour organizers, particularly tournament director Fritz Katzengruber, early Thursday morning (5:15 a.m. to be exact) informing them that he is pulling out.

He decided to play even though he knew that any moment his wife is about to give birth. He was scheduled to tee off at 6:45 a.m.

Too bad, since Pagunsan was just six shots behind, after shooting an even-par 72, opening-round leader Dodge Kemmer’s sizzling six-under-par 66.

Still, Pagunsan welcomed the new Asian Tour event. “We are all happy with this new event on the Asian Tour and in the Philippines. This new tournament is big for all of us.”

Taiwan’s Lin Wen-tang, however, managed to tame Wack Wack’s tricky 7,053-yard east course with a final round one-over-par-73 to pocket the US54,000 champion's purse.

Elmer Salvador, Mars Pucay and Miguel Tabuena were the top Filipino performers and all are in title contention in the final round but failed to sustain their fine form.

Salvador had an even-par 74 to place fifth and bring home $12,300, while Pucay (one-over-par 71) and Tabuena (one-over-par 72) shared sixth place with Thailand’s Gunn Charoenkul and Australian Unho Park worth $8,077.50 each.

The $300,000 Asian Tour event is sponsored in part by Hyundai, Pru Life UK, the Department of Tourism, Nescafé, Omega, Canon, Holiday Inn, Johnnie Walker, Asahi Super Dry, Panasonic, Pepsi and Srixon.