Tabuena makes cut in India

MANILA, Philippines – Teener Miguel Tabuena made the cut on his professional debut on the Asian Tour, firing a gutsy even-par 72 for joint 17th halfway through the SAIL Open paced by Japanese Akinori Tani and Indian Siddikur Rahman at the Delhi Golf Club in New Delhi, India yesterday.

The 16-year-old Tabuena, who shot an impressive start of 69 Tuesday, bucked the pressure and birdied two of the last five holes, negating his two early bogey mishaps to be in the mix of veteran campaigners at three-under 141.

Mars Pucay actually turned in a better 36-hole output of 140 for joint 11th but the top Filipino shotmaker had to give way for Tabuena, who earned his Asian Tour card in Qualifying School earlier this year as an amateur but decided to take his career to a new level after the Montecillo Junior International Cup back home two weeks ago.

“I want to go out there and try my best. It shows that I can compete with the bigger guys. I’m not expecting much but it was a good result for me,” said Tabuena.

He said working with veteran Canadian coach Rick Gibson has helped him adapt faster to life as a professional.

“I’ve been working with Rick and that has been good because of his experience playing on the Asian Tour. There’s still three more days to go but this course suits me as I’m not a long hitter and like to keep the ball in play. I’m looking forward to the next few days,” said Tabuena.

Pucay strung up five straight birdies linking both nines, including three-in-row from No. 16 then added two more on Nos. 1 and 2 to put himself in early contention. But the Filipino ace stumbled with a bogey on No. 3, dropped two strokes on the par-4 sixth before holing out with another bogey on No. 9 for a 38 and a 71.

He pooled a 140, including an opening 69 in the $300,000 event serving as the second leg of this year’s Asian Tour, and stood five strokes off Tani and Rahman, who had 135s after identical 67s.

Local bets Ajeetesh Sandhu and Gaganjeet Bhullar stood a stroke behind with 136s after 67 and 69, respectively.