Tabuena conquers Rio course at last with 70

Philippines' Miguel Luis Tabuena competes in the men's individual stroke play at the Olympic Golf course during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro on August 11, 2016. AFP / Emmanuel DUNAND

Philippines’ Miguel Luis Tabuena competes in the men’s individual stroke play at the Olympic Golf course during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro on August 11, 2016. AFP / Emmanuel DUNAND

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.

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