Tabuena lurks one behind in 96th Philippine Open

MANDALUYONG—Miguel Tabuena reminisced with the way he played in the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games and it worked as the 17-year-old fired a gutsy five-under-par 67 to lay just a shot behind Singapore's Mardan Mamat as the ICTSI Philippine Open heads to its final 18 holes on Sunday at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club. Tabuena mounted the Philippine challenge as he kept on hitting birdies—exactly four—in the first six holes. He bogeyed the eighth after he missed the green and a 20-footer save for par but responded with a birdie on the ninth hole of the wind-swept East course, fabled home of the this year's 96th PHL Open. He continued his run on the 10th and 11th with consecutive birdies at the turn. Only a bogey on the 17th tainted his superb showing in the $300,000 tournament. The Asian Games silver medalist had a 210 total in the chase for his maiden PHL Open crown. Mamat was only one stroke better at 209 after he carded a two-under-par 70. Korean Mo Joong-kyung, with two Asian Tour wins, will complete the troika for Sunday's championship flight at 11:00 a.m. "I kept telling myself to stay patient and the putts will drop. I felt like this in the Asian Games when I played well in the first two days. I had a similar feeling," said Tabuena. It also helped ease the pressure with his family and friends watching him in the gallery. About 20 of them, including mom Lorna, witnessed Tabuena's great game. "My whole family was here. I wish my sister was here as she's in the US on her honeymoon. My aunts and uncles showed up. It was a big help," he also said. Mamat had a roller-coaster ride of one-under in each nine for that 70. He struggled with his irons, especially at the back nine where the wind was ever-changing. "I hit a lot of fliers and made a lot of putts today. The winds were a big higher and unpredictable," Mamat explained. Asked on what was his feeling being paired with Tabuena, Mamat said: "He is a good potential. He’s got a good swing and gets good guidance from his coach Rick Gibson. He's certainly an upcoming Asian player." Antonio Lascuna and Ferdie Aunzo, just within striking distance with Mamat after the second day, came out flat today. Lascuna made a four-over-par 76 for 218, good for eighth. Aunzo had a seven-over-par 79 to be on 29th with a 221 aggregate. Defending champion Berry Henson of the US moved up to eighth spot with a 72-218. — JVP, GMA News