Tabuena conquers Rio course at last with 70

RIO DE JANEIRO—Miguel Tabuena birdied two of the last three holes in a fighting finish to salvage a one-under-par 70 to close out his unprecedented Olympic stint at the 31st Summer Games here.

The 21-year-old reigning Philippine Open champion finally conquered the 7,128-yard links course of Olimpico de Golfe, thanks to a birdie at the par-5 last hole. Counting his earlier rounds of 73, 75 and 73, Tabuena totalled 291, far behind the tournament leaders but surely an achievement for one who had been playing through a shoulder pain. “Finally got the course napping,” said Tabuena. “I promised to finish the tournament and I did. It’s a great feeling.” He wound up far behind the leaders but his final-round play proved that he belonged in the tournament, the first gold competition in the Olympics in 112 years. Great Britain’s Justin Rose kept his one-shot lead over British Open winner Henrik Stenson through five holes. Two-day leader Marcus Fraser lay three strokes off the pace.