Pagunsan recovered from a triple bogey on No. 9 with two late birdies to salvage a two-over par 74 for a three-day total of 224.
Overnight co-leader Angelo Que bogeyed three of the last four holes, including a three-putt on the final hole to finish a shot behind Pagunsan following a 78.
Four players were bunched at 229 as the battle for the top purse of P1.5 million could boil down between former champions Pagunsan and Que.
“It’s okay, I just had minor mistakes, missing short par putts in the early going,” said Pagunsan, a three-time winner here.
“Given the course length and windy condition, it’s a question of minimizing your errors. I need to concentrate to boost my chances of winning,” added Pagunsan whose poor tee shot on the par-4, 9th led to the triple bogey.
Que, who also won the event thrice, was three up on Pagunsan before unraveling in the final four holes.
“Despite my finish, I’m happy as long as I’m still in the fight. Just one down, still in there,” said Que.
“It’s really tough out there. The last few holes I made bogeys which were unavoidable. If you can make 18 pars here, it’s one heck of a round,” said Que, adding he’ll stick to go for pars.
“It’s pretty much between Juvic and me. Dikit ang laban so we’ll see,” he added.
Tony Lascuña turned in a four-over 76 and tied Arnold Villacencio, Jhonnel Ababa and Miguel Tabuena at 229 but the reigning ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour Order of Merit champion earned the coveted spot in the championship flight with a better output than the three.
Villacencio carded a 77, Ababa shot a 79 while Tabuena made a birdie-less 80.
Lascuña believes five shots is nothing.
“No lead is safe in this course with this kind of playing condition. I just have to stay focused and try to make the most of my shots,” said Lascuña, seeking a follow-up to his victory here way back in 2004.
The rest, however, could be too far behind to contend with Charles Hong and Orlan Sumcad, the only players to birdie the 18th yesterday, tied at 235 after a 77 and 80, respectively, and Dutch Guido Van der Valk at 237, also after an 80.
Nakajima, who surprised the stellar local field with a 70 in the opening day and held on a share of the lead with Que despite a 77 Friday, never recovered from a 41 start and finished with a birdie-less 43 for that atrocious 84 and a 231.
