Juvic Pagunsan reels back after 74 at Japan Open, falls to joint seventh with Adam Scott

FILIPINO pro Juvic Pagunsan struggled with a two-over par 74 and lost grip of the lead in the rich Japan Open golf championship in Kobe on Friday.

After an opening 66 that staked him in the solo lead, the 37-year-old former Asian Tour No. 1 slipped to joint seventh at 140 - seven shots behind new leader Satoshi Kodaira who shot a day's best 62.

Another Filipino pro, Angelo Que, matched Pagunsan's 74 after an opening 68 and slipped to joint 20th at 142 in the event that stakes a total purse of ¥200,000,000 event (over P77 million).

If it was any consolation, Pagunsan found himself tied with the tournament's top draw, Aussie Adam Scott, who shot a 70. The two will be in the same flight in the third round.