Tabuena clings to one-shot lead

TRECE MARTIREZ, Cavite, Philippines – Teener Miguel Tabuena blew hot and cold but came up with closing birdies to fend off a charging Japanese Toru Nakajima and hang on to a one-stroke lead with a 70 in the third round of the P2.5 million ICTSI Sherwood Hills Classic at the Sherwood layout here yesterday.

Tabuena, who built a two-shot cushion over Charles Hong halfway through the 72-hole championship Thusday, gunned down seven birdies, including a clutch three-footer on the 17th, to negate a five-bogey mishap in another challenging day at the wind-raked layout.

Nakajima actually fought back from three strokes to tie Tabuena with a 32 at the turn but made back-to-back bogeys from No. 10, enabling the Filipino teener to regain the solo lead with that closing birdie for a pair of 35s and a 54-hole haul of 210.

“I’ve been saying this the last three days but I’ll say it again, I’m really feeling good the whole tournament,” said Tabuena, who won two titles last year at Splendido and Eastridge.

Nakajima also looked good and in control of his game.

“It’s a great day,” said Nakajima, who went on a blistering pace at the front with four birdies starting on No. 3 to tie Tabuena before settling for a four-under 68, still the day’s best.

The third placer in the recent PGT Q-School totaled a 211, putting him in contention for the top P450,000 purse in the event serving as the kickoff leg of this year’s ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour.

The 28-year-old Nakajima, a frequent Phl visitor since he was 10, hit a bogey-free 32 at the front, starting on No. 3, to tie Tabuena at the helm.

But the Yamanashi native fumbled with back-to-back bogeys on No. 10, allowing Tabuena to regain the lead with birdies on Nos. 12 and 13 against a bogey on the 12th.

Tabuena three-putted No. 14 for another bogey while Nakajima birdied the 15th to forge another tie although the former came through with the clutch three-footer on the 17th to head to the final round still on top.

“I’m more focused on my own play,” said Tabuena.