Miguel Tabuena comes into the third round down by just four shots. —ASIAN TOUR PHOTO
The Philippines’ Miguel Tabuena dropped his first two shots in the Asian Tour’s International Series Thailand on Friday but still returned a solid two-under-par 70 to trail Dodge Kemmer of the United States by four strokes heading into weekend play at Black Mountain Club.
Starting off on the back nine this time, Tabuena came out with a 36 after two birdies and bogeys on Nos. 10 and 14, before restoring order with back-to-back birdies from No. 5 for a 134 aggregate in the $2 million event.
Kemmer, who shared the first round lead with the Filipino ace, followed up an opening 64 with a 66 built around eight birdies with hometown legends Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Jazz Janewattananond shooting 67s to be two shots behind.
A third Thai, Settee Prakongvech, climbed into a second place tie after a late afternoon 66. Australia’s Zach Murray also submitted a 66 to be three shots off.
“I have been hitting it nicely, struggled on the greens last week. But if I can get a few more of those to fall I will be right in there,” Kemmer, whose best finish on the Asian Tour is third at the Bangladesh Open in 2017, said. “It would be great [to win this week], it was tough last year.”
Birthday girl
Meanwhile, Rianne Malixi celebrated her birthday in style in Singapore, shooting a five-under-par 67 to vault back into contention in the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship at Singapore Island County Club.
With a 141 aggregate, Malixi moved to solo ninth, still five strokes off the pace but within striking distance at the rolling layout near the Nature Reserve Catchment littered with Macaque monkeys.
Hong Kong’s Sophie Han closed out with three straight birdies to shoot a 68 for 136, tied with Thai Eila Galitsky, who shot a solid 67.
“I started great and putting was better as well,” said Malixi, while stressing her consistency helped key her big bounce-back on her 16th birthday.
LK Go, was the second Filipino to advance to the final two round after firing a 73 for a 145 tally.
Junia Gabasa shot a 74, but an opening 79 pulled her down into missing the cut by three shots.