Red-hot Miguel Tabuena bamboozles field with record 64

Miguel Tabuena walks a birdie putt on No. 7. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Miguel Tabuena took advantage of benign conditions on Tuesday, and with his remarkable ball-striking skills, left the rich The Country Club Invitational field dumbfounded and eating his dust after shooting a record eight-under-par 64 to open up a six-stroke lead after the first 18 holes of the P6 million tournament.

“I didn’t expect to play like this, but sometimes, with no expectations, you play better,” said the 2017 champion, who picked up shots on all par-5s as he threatens to make what was supposed to be a shootout among the country’s best a cakewalk the rest of the week.

“It wasn’t as windy in the morning, so the course actually played easier for the rest of the field. I would like it to be windier, but I took advantage of the less wind,” added Tabuena.

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Three players led by Antonio Lascuña shot 70s even as journeyman Rico Depilo was the last player to crack par over the 7,735-yard beast, with defending champion Guido Van der Valk of The Netherlands shooting a 72 to be eight adrift.

South Korea’s Min Seong-kim and Sean Ramos were the others that fired 70s, while Clyde Mondilla also shot a 72 to stay mathematically in it.

Angelo Que, meanwhile, struggled to fire a 73, his chances of becoming the first to win this event four times now depending on how low he can go in the second round on Wednesday.

Jonel Ababa, last year’s Order of Merit champion, also finished level even as 2018 champion Micah Shin fired a 74 and now has his work cut out for him. INQ