Tabuena shoots 65, nears first AT crown

MANILA, Philippines - Miguel Tabuea turned a mediocre start into a blazing windup, closing out with a six-under 30 for a seven-under 65 that put the young Filipino ace in the threshold of a breakthrough victory on the Asian Tour.

With erstwhile joint leader Tony Lascuña tumbling down with a roller-coaster 72, Tabuena took up the cudgels for the Filipinos bets who continued to lead the Yeangder Tournament Players Championship for the third straight day at the Linkou International Golf and Country Club in Taiwan yesterday.

And Tabuena, 19, is all set to finish it off not only to cap the Philippines’ domination of the $500,000 event but also end his quest for a victory on the region’s premier circuit and finally gain the elusive Asian Tour card.

“I gave myself a chance and that was my goal. I’m really happy that I’m in the hunt going to the final round,” said Tabuena, who finished tied for second in the Taifong Open of the Asian Development Tour in Chang Hwa, also in Taiwan, last July. “If I do the same thing and do what I’ve been doing then I believe I have a chance.”

Tabuena, who has also won two tournaments on the Philippine Golf Tour, including the ICTSI Manila Masters at Eastridge last June, hit six birdies at the back, including the first three and the last two, as he jumped from joint 13th to solo lead at 10-under 206 heading to the final round of the 72-hole championship.

But Asian Tour stars Thaworn Wiratchant and Anirban Lahiri of India will be out to foil his bid as they stayed just right behind by one at 207s after a pair of 68s while local bet Yeh Wei-tze matched Tabuena’s day’s best 65 to join Thai Prom Meesawat, who shot a 68, and Swede Daniel Chopra, who fired a 69, at 208.

Lascuña, who made just one bogey to seize control after 36 holes, gunned down five birdies but fumbled with the same number of bogeys for a 72. He dropped to solo seventh but still within striking distance at 209.

Elmer Salvador, who led in the first round with a 66, failed to recover from a second round 74 with a 75 as he slipped farther back at 215.