(Asian Games) Tabuena slips to 2nd after a 74; Thais tie PH golfers

GUANGZHOU—The field finally figured out the course. And all of a sudden, the continent’s top golfers showed what they’re made of. Miguel Tabuena picked the wrong time to go on a hiccup, struggling to a 2-over-par 74 Friday and slipped to second place behind the South Korean spearhead in individual play going into the final round of the 16th Asian Games men’s individual golf competition at the testy Dragon Lake Golf Club. A pair of solid performances left Tabuena sandwiched between two top contenders. Korea’s Kim Meen-whee fired an eagle-spiked 67 to seize a six-shot lead over Tabuena  at 12-under 204 and boost Korea to a superb 206 for the day and an unassailable 24-under total of 624—a whopping 29 shots clear of the Filipinos and the Thais. Thailand’s Atthachai Jaichalad, 18, earlier laid siege to a course that proved a tough nut to crack in the first two rounds, shooting a course-record 65 to vault to third place at 211, a stroke behind Tabuena. Marcel Puyat returned a 71 and Mark Fernando improved to a 73 as the Philippines pooled 218 in the three-to-count format. Jerson Balasabas failed to count with a 79. Only the 75 of Pook Saksansin pulled the Thais down a bit as Wa Sripattranusorn complemented Attachai’s 65 with a 72 for a third-round 212 that tied the Filipinos at 653. “When the guys finally solved the course, the talent in the field really showed,” said men’s team coach Tommy Manotoc. Jaichalad could have gone lower—he was nine under through 16 holes—but for two poor approach shots that yielded bogeys. Chihiro Ikeda fired a two-under 70 to lead the women’s team, which was mired in sixth spot, 34 shots off pacesetting Korea and 29 off a podium finish. Dottie Ardina had a 76, while Mia Piccio’s 79 did not count.