MIGUEL Tabuena. Inquirer Golf
MIGUEL Tabuena shot a 2-under-par 70 to stay six shots clear of Jay Bayron in the second round of the ICTSI Anvaya Cove Invitational over the well-manicured layout in Morong, Bataan.
After shooting a career-low and resetting the course record with a 62 on Wednesday, Tabuena had six birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey in a 37-33 effort for a 132, barely missing in putting the title in the bag this early.
Bayron matched that 70 with Antonio Lascuña and Japan’s Toru Nakajima shooting 69s to be eight shots off going into the final two rounds of the rich, season-opening leg of the 15-stop circuit.
Tabuena uncharacteristically dropped shots in the two par-5s of the front nine for that 37, and after five birdies and two pars in the inward half, signed for a double bogey 6 on the 17th.
Not in the bag yet
If not for those miscues, Tabuena could have settled the outcome—if he still hadn’t after that scorching opening round—after just 36 holes of the event dangling a champion’s prize of P650,000.
“It’s still not finished, there are still two more rounds (to be played),” said the 21-year-old Tabuena, who will be feted as one of three 2015 Athlete of the Year awardees of the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) tomorrow.
“I will still have the same strategy (for the final two rounds)—risk and reward,” Tabuena said. “If I can pull it off, then why not?”
Que struggles
Angelo Que, the defending champion who shot a final round 64 to win last year, survived the cut with a strong back nine but is out of it after shooting a 75 for 151.
South Korea’s Park Min-ung, the former junior Philippine Am champion, fired a 69 for 142, with Dutchman Guido Van Der Valk, Clyde Mondilla and Chucky Hong shooting 72s to be at 143.
“He’s playing on a different level,” Bayron said in Filipino, referring to Tabuena as the former Philippine Open runner-up practically conceded defeat. “I don’t think we can still catch up.”