Tabuena hits 2 eagles but still 11 off

MANILA, Philippines - Miguel Tabuena gunned down two eagles to shoot a six-under 66 but the Filipino ace still stood too far behind India’s Anirban Lahiri in the third round of the CIMB Classic at the TPC Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club in Malaysia yesterday.

Tabuena, who bounced back with a 69 Friday after an opening 73, rebounded from a double-bogey on the par-3 11th with eagles on the reachable par-5 Nos. 3 and 18 while adding five birdies against a bogey in an impressive 32-34 card.

But with Lahiri and a host of others also pounding the par-72 layout with a run of under-par scores, Tabuena still found himself 11 strokes behind the pacesetter heading to the final 18 holes of the $7 million event.

“It’s a pretty good round considering my bad start on No.11. But I hung in there. I know I’m playing really well, solid and I had a few good breaks with the eagles,” said Tabuena, who moved from No. 46 to joint 28th at 208. “Hopefully I can play the same way in the final round and climb the leaderboard.”

He still lay 11 shots off Lahiri, who pooled a 197 after a 65 for a four-shot lead over American Justin Thomas and Scot Russell Knox, who both hand 201s after a 71 and 68, respectively.

Tabuena also outscored Ernie Els of South Africa, who limped with a 74 for a 216.