Bayron, Tabuena sizzle South African catches two Taiwanese at helm

CARMONA, Cavite, Philippines – Filipino Miguel Tabuena shot two eagles in a roller-coaster round of 68 yesterday while compatriot Rufino Bayron stalked new leaders Hung Chien-yao and Lee Chieh-po of Taipei and Jbe Kruger of South Africa with a 66 entering the third round of the $1 million Resorts World Manila Masters.

Tabuena, who turned 21 last month, eagled the par-5 No. 15 and the par-4 No. 1 coming in, and sizzled with birdies on Nos. 4, 5, 7, 8 and 18 at Manila Southwoods’ Masters course which took another severe beating with 58 players breaking par, including six who failed to make the cut at 144.

But the long-hitting Tabuena, still eyeing his first win on the Asian Tour, had his share of misfortunes on yet another windy day – a double-bogey on No. 10 and bogeys on Nos. 2, 13 and 16.

He closed the day at 138 or six-under – four shots off the pace.

Still, it was Bayron who stood as the best-placed Filipino halfway through the richest golf tournament in the country. He conquered the Masters course with seven birdies and a bogey for a shining 66, just a stroke behind the leaders.

“I’ll try my best to win the tournament,” said Bayron, who scored a breakthrough on the Asian Development Tour by winning the Orchard Championship last year.

Hung and Lee closed the day tied at 134 after respective rounds of 67 and 66 and emerged as the new leaders in the event offering $135,000 or roughly P6.3 million to the champion.

Hung had five birdies in a bogey-free round, including one from just outside the green of the 200-yard No. 3. His other birdies came on Nos. 1, 8, 14 and 18.

“I wasn’t thinking about leading actually. Maybe that’s why I could play with no pressure out there. I just thought it’s still the second round and there is still a lot more to do,” said Hung.

“I don’t want to give myself too much pressure. I just want to enjoy my game out there,” he added.

Lee, a 21-year-old rookie on the Asian Tour, came charging in with an eagle on the par-5 No. 4 and birdies on Nos. 5, 7, 10, 11 and 18 against a lone bogey at the 12th.

“I didn’t know I was leading until the last hole actually but I kind of knew I am going to be up there because I played really good,” said Lee.

Kruger fired the day’s best round, a 65 spiked with eight birdies against a lone bogey. He started the day like Superman, birdying five of the first seven holes, all from short putts.

The skinny South African, who hits the ball real hard, played his irons so well the entire day. On the par-5 18th, he putted for birdie from just over two feet.

Nicholas Fung of Malaysia, the first-round leader, had a 69 after a 66 and stood tied with Bayron. Akinori Tani of Japan fired a 67 and briefly held on to the lead but ended the day sharing sixth place with Tirawat Kaewsiribandit of Thailand (67) and Adam Groom of Australia (67) at 136.

At the 543-yard 15th hole, Tabuena hit a three-iron from 233 yards out for his second shot, his ball landing on the fringe. He putted from there for his first eagle of the day.

Then at the 419-yard No. 1, he drove 332 yards and had 87 yards left for his second shot. He pulled out his wedge and sent his ball spinning back to the hole.

Those magical shots kept him in the race.

“Those eagles made the difference.  I hope to duplicate this feat in the third round tomorrow to give myself a good chance at the title,” said Tabuena, who teed off just before 7 a.m.

Tabuena rued the force of strong winds in the morning, saying if it prevails over the coming days then he can expect scores to soar.

“Expect high scores with this kind of weather,” he said when in fact there were three dozen players breaking 70 yesterday.

The players had a little bit of everything in the second round. It was windy in the morning and got a little too hot at around noon before a short downpour by 2 p.m.

Joining Tabuena at 138 and definitely in the running were Masahiro Kamawura of Japan (69-69), Rahil Gangjee of India (72-66), Jeunghun Wang of Korea (69-69) and Arnond Vongvanij of Thailand (72-66).

Mars Pucay got it going with a 68 and moved to four-under in a tie with five others, including Thailand’s Prom Meesawat (72-68) and Korea’s Soomin Lee who birdied four of his last seven holes for a 66 after a 74.

Sixty-seven players made the cut pegged at even-par 144.

Mardan Mamat of Singapore, last year’s winner, was even for the day but missed the cut following a two-over 74 in the opening round.

The 2012 Philippine Open champion dumped his bag near the entrance to the main clubhouse and walked away thinking of an early flight back home.

“My putts didn’t hold. I didn’t putt well today,” said Mamat, winner of five Asian Tour titles but always finding it very difficult to defend a crown.

Among those who failed to make it to the money rounds were Thai youngster Jazz Janewattananond who missed it by a stroke (69-76-145), Frankie Miñoza (75-74-149), Cassius Casas (73-76-149) and 23 other Filipinos.

Matthew Giles of Australia hit a 67 in the second round and missed the cut by one.