Tabuena shoots a 68, ties Bayron at Eastridge
BINANGONAN—Teener Miguel Tabuena moved on the threshold of a second career win by firing a solid four-under 68 yesterday to catch Jay Bayron on top after two rounds of the P1 million ICTSI Eastridge Classic at the Eastridge Golf Club here.
Tabuena, 17, gunned down six birdies against two bogeys at the up-and-down layout for a 36-hole aggregate of 138, which Bayron matched after a birdie on the 18th hole gave him a second straight 69.
Antonio Lascuña, the ICTSI Eagle Ridge Invitational winner two weeks ago, Mars Pucay and Angelo Que stood four strokes behind at 142 while defending champion Juvic Pagunsan rallied with a 69 and joined a six-man group at 143 going into today’s final round.
Tabuena, who scored a breakthrough win as a pro in the kickoff leg of this year’s ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour at Splendido last March, made his move with three birdies in the first four holes at the back nine, then held on for a closing 33 with a final-hole birdie.
Bayron started hot with five birdies on the first eight holes before taking a double bogey on the par-4 ninth.
Lascuña submitted another 71, Pucay settled for a 73, while Que birdied two of the last four holes to salvage a 72.
Pagunsan, who beat Marvin Dumandan by three shots here last year, rebounded from a so-so 73 with a 33 at the turn.
The Asian Tour No. 1 was tied with Dumandan, Ruben Sasutil and Christopher delos Santos, who all had 71s, Rufino Bayron (70) and Sherwood Hills leg titlist Elmer Salvador (72).
The rest of the surviving 40-player field, who made the cut at 151, were too far off the leaders with Michael Bibat and James Ryan Lam tied at 144 after a 69 and 71, respectively, and Clyde Mondilla (73), Orlan Sumcad (73) and Arnold Villacencio (68) at 145.
