Flawless Tabuena grabs ICTSI lead

MIGUEL Tabuena was flawless in tying the course record of seven-under-par 65 yesterday and zoomed to a one-stroke lead over Angelo Que going into today’s final round of the P2 million ICTSI Splendido Classic in Tagaytay.

The 20-year-old Tabuena held back in shooting for the new mark and settled for a routine par on the par-5 18th, but his 54-hole 204 aggregate was enough to put him in prime position for another victory on the local tour.

Que had an eagle-spiked 65 and sealed a you-or-me final round duel with Tabuena. Elmer Salvador, after a 71, trailed by four and Antonio Lascuña, also after a 71, was another stroke back.

Second round leader Benjie Magada, after shooting a 65 on Thursday for a three-stroke lead over Que, ballooned to a 75 and dropped in the company of Lascuña even as Rufino Bayron, the first round leader, was seven shots behind after a 71.

Guido Van Der Valk of The Netherlands was the best-placed foreigner in the field at 212, tied with Clyde Mondilla, after both scored 71s.

Jay Bayron kissed his title-retention bid adieu after a 73 for 214. Last year, Jay Bayron erased a nine-stroke deficit on younger brother Rufino in the final round to win.