Que gains solo lead with two-under 69

CANLUBANG, Philippines – Angelo Que yesterday put himself in a very good position to rule the second Solaire Open and win his first Asian Tour title since 2010.

“Hopefully I can finish this off,” said the 35-year-old Filipino, who will answer the gun in today’s final round of the $300,000 event as the solo leader.

Unmoved by the blustery winds, Que submitted a two-under-par 69, with four birdies and two bogeys, for a three-day total of 204.

A winner in the Asian Tour in 2004, 2008 and 2010, Que is just one up on countryman Miguel Tabuena (70), and two up on Korean Wang Jeung-hun (68).

Tabuena, who’s only 19, and Wang, even younger at 18, will join Que in the championship fight which tees off at 8:45 a.m.

Que will have to lean on his experience if he wants to beat these players almost half his age.

“Magmu-mukha akong matanda dito (I will look old here),” said Que, who has won three local titles at The Country Club.

Four players are four strokes behind the leader. They are Clyde Mondilla (67) of the Philippines, Akinori Tani (67) of Japan, Chawalit Plaphol (68) of Thailand and Richard Lee (70) of Canada.

Que could have padded his lead if not for a bogey at the 18th where he pulled his second shot, chipped to 15 feet and missed the par putt.

“It was still a good putt,” said Que, who had birdies on Nos. 2, 5, 8 and 10.

At the 10th, a 518-yard, par-5 hole, he had the chance for an eagle. He had a huge drive, hit a 5-iron from 204 feet, landed on the green and two-putted from 25 feet.

Everybody’s looking at a tight finish in this event sponsored by Solaire Resorts and Casino and backed by DMCI Homes, BDO and Meralco.

Que said he’s ready for anything.

“We know what to do. We prepared hard for this. It is going to be a challenging round. I just want to keep my game up and finally close the deal after four years,” he said.

Tabuena is eyeing a breakthrough win in the Asian Tour, and his rounds of 67-68-70 would show that he’s very capable of doing it.

“I’ve been waiting for the moment to win my first Asian Tour title since I turned professional. Hopefully it happens,” said Tabuena.

“My goal was to get into position for the final round and I’m there,” added the former child wonder of Philippine golf.

Que knows what he’s up against.

“Miguel never gives up. He just keeps on coming. He is young and reminds me of myself when I was young,” he said.

Wang, the South Korean, is no stranger in the Philippines because he lives here. In 2011, he ruled the Philippine Amateurs at The Riviera.

Wang placed fourth in last year’s Solaire Open at Wack Wack.

“This year, I feel more relaxed and I just want to play my best golf. If I can, I want to win this tournament,” he said yesterday.

The winner takes home $54,000 plus all the bragging rights.