With conditions as tough as they could get, Justin Quiban finished with a wobble on Thursday for a one-over-par 73, staying on top of the ICTSI Eagle Ridge Challenge by a shot, but allowing the dangerous Miguel Tabuena to close in heading into the final 18 holes of the P2 million event at the complex’s Aoki layout.
Quiban, who shared the 36-hole lead with Michael Bibat, holed out with a double bogey 6 that threw away two back nine birdies that proved hard to come by on a demanding day as he takes a 213 aggregate and a one shot lead over Tabuena and Zannie Boy Gialon in a pressure-packed last round where he will try to win for the third time.
“I didn’t drive it well,” Quiban said as Tabuena rallied from four shots down at the start of the day to within a stroke after a 70, with the Rio de Janeiro Olympics veteran vowing to go on attack mode on Friday. “But at least I was able to go up-and-down on some holes that minimized the damage.”
Gialon fired a 73 even as Bibat, who opened up with consecutive 70s, skied to a 76 to be three shots down.