JUVIC PAGUNSAN got a lift from an eagle and got to three under through 10 holes but suffered two bogeys to settle for a 70 and a share of second spot in the after the third round of the Japan Open on Saturday in Osaka.
The 34-year-old Pagunsan, top money earner on the Asian Tour last year and now looking to make his mark on the Japan Tour, had a birdie-bogey start before making eagle on No. 6.
The shotmaker from Bacolod birdied No. 10 and dropped shots on Nos. 12 and 18 for a one-under round.
Still, that 70 was the best for the day as the field struggled in tough conditions at Naha Golf Club.
Pagunsan is at five-over 218 after 54 holes, same as the aggregate of Koumei Oda who had a 72.
They were two strokes off Tetsuji Hiratsuka of Japan, who had a third-round 73.
Pagunsan was the only one to break par, while last week's Canon Open winner Yuta Ikeda was one of only two who matched par.
Ikeda had a 71 for a three-day total of eight-over 221, while Yosuke Tsukada also scored even par and had a 224 total.
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