Tabuena fires 66 to be just two off Thai ace in Taiwan

Miguel Tabuena. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Thailand’s Suteepat Prateeptienchai continued his impressive march to a second title on the Asian Tour after keeping the lead for the third straight day in the US$1-million Yeangder TPC, with Filipino star Miguel Tabuena continuing to give chase.

Prateeptienchai returned a four-under-par 68 on Saturday for a 198 aggregate, now just two shots ahead of Tabuena at Linkou International Golf & Country Club in Chinese-Taipei.

So often in the running this season, Tabuena nailed a 20-foot putt for eagle to close out a 66 even as Japan’s Kazuki Higa and Charlie Lindh of Sweden both shot 64s to be five off the lead like Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert, who carded a 67.

American John Catlin, the leading player on the Asian Tour and International Series rankings, returned a 68 and is in a group of players another shot back.

“It was so windy today, it was tough,” said Prateeptienchai, who topped the Asian Development Tour Order of Merit in 2022, helped by three victories in Indonesia. His first Asian Tour win also came in the Taiwan Glass Taifong Open.

Seeking No. 4

“It was okay for the first three or four holes, but then it got tough. I was just trying to play it safe and when I had a chance, make birdie, to keep my lead. I am still leading by two, that’s great.”

Tabuena, who will be trying to win for the fourth time on the Asian Tour, and first since The DGC Open in March of last year, is playing through left thumb pain.

“I am fighting a bit of pain on my left thumb again. It started on Wednesday, so I am just trying to take care of that,” Tabuena said. “Golf is a funny sport and if you don’t focus on your actual game, sometimes you can do great things. I am happy with the way I am playing.”