Tabuena settles for second in Taipei

MANILA, Philippines - Miguel Tabuena couldn’t sustain his assault in the Yeangder Tournament Players Championship, firing a one-over-par 73 yesterday and finishing second at the Linkou International Golf and Country Club in Taipei.

After an impressive round of 65 the other day, when he fired seven birdies, the boyish-looking Filipino had three bogeys in a six-hole stretch from the 12th to the 17th against only two birdies in the event shortened to three rounds following Friday’s heavy rains.

With a three-day total of 206, Tabuena finished the tournament in solo second, two strokes behind Shaun Norris of South Africa.

Norris had five birdies on the back nine against a lone bogey on the front end for a third consecutive round of 68 and a 12-under 204 total.

Tabuena went down with three bogeys going home. As Tabuena bogeyed the par-3 17th hole, Norris, fourth before the round, went up by three and safely won the championship despite a final-hole bogey.

Norris won $90,000. Tabuena, the Order of Merit winner with four victories in the local tour, tallied 68-65-73 (206) for second place worth $55,000.

It was a disappointing finish for Tabuena, who grabbed a two-shot lead heading to the final day of the $500,000 event. He had hoped to erase the memories of last year’s struggle in the final round.

Tabuena also came close to winning the event last year.

Kim Giwhan of South Korea matched the 68 of Norris and led five players tied for third place at 208, including Pittayarat Panuphol of Thailand (69), Hsu Hao-sheng of Taiwan (69), Keith Horne of South Africa (71) and Natipong Srithong of Thailand (73).

Antonio Lascuña was in a tie for eighth with Danny Chia of Malaysia at 209 following respective rounds of 70 and 71.