Tabuena wavers, ends up joint 2nd

MANILA, Philippines — Miguel Tabuena hit two late birdies to wrest control but fumbled with bogeys in the last two and lost by one to Thai Suradit Yongcharoenchai in a thriller of a finish in the Taiwan Masters in New Taipei City yesterday.

Tabuena appeared headed to a third Asian Tour victory when he birdied Nos. 13 and 16 but three-putted the par-3 17th and missed the final green and ended up with another bogey in a heartbreaking windup for the ace Filipino shotmaker who also finished second here in 2016.

Watching Tabuena stumble, Yongcharoenchai kept his poise and came through with clutch pars after missing the Nos. 16 and 17 greens and then holed out with a two-putt par to cap a closing 70 for a winning 10-under 278 total worth $180,000.

Tabuena, the former Philippine Open champion and winner of the Queen’s Cup in Thailand last year, ended up with a 279 and shared second place with Brazilian Adilson Da Silva, who rallied with a 68, and India’s Ajeetesh Sandhu – third round co-leader with Tabuena – who also matched par 72. Each received $72,000 (P3.7 million).

In Texas, Dottie Ardina turned in a one-birdie, one-bogey game for an even par 71 and stayed at joint 37th in the third round of the Volunteers of America Classic of the LPGA now led by American Jaye Marie Green at The Colony Saturday.

Counting her 68 and 73, Ardina assembled a three-day total of 212, 13 strokes behind Green, who took charge with a fiery 64 and a 199.

Green stood one-shot ahead of fellow American Cheyenne Knight, who shot a second straight 67 for a 200 while Katherine Perry, also of the US, fired a 66 for joint third with Brittany Altomare, who carded a 68, at 201.

Erstwhile leader Alena Sharp of Canana struggled with a 72 and tumbled to joint sixth at 205.