Quiban catches up with 64; Thai keeps lead

CARMONA, Cavite, Philippines — The leadership remained in the hands of Thai ace Sadom Kaewkanjana but the day belonged to Filipino Justin Quiban.

Taking advantage of the more favorable elements of his early morning flight, Quiban turned in a sizzling six-under 64 – the Smart Infinity Philippine Open’s best score so far – to breach the Top 10 yesterday.

After lurking at joint 80th with his opening 73 in a noontime start, Quiban went on a tear at Manila Southwoods’ Masters course and carded an eagle-spiked, bogey-free round to make his giant leap.

Quiban, who led the march of a handful of Pinoy aces into weekend play of the revived $500,000 Open, goes into moving day trailing Kaewkanjana by six.

The Thai two-time Asian Tour winner followed up his flawless 65 with a 66 to retain pole position at 131 – three ahead of American-Korean Micah Shin (65) and four adrift Australian Aaron Wilkin (69) and Tomoyo Ikemura (66).

“Driving was way better today (yesterday) compared to Thursday,” said Quiban, who was in a nine-player pack at 137 behind the fifth-running group of South African Ian Snyman (68), Aussies Travis Smyth (66), Korean Jaewong Eom (68) and Thai Charng-Tai Sudsom (67) at 136.

“Luckily, my putts were going so (the) 64 happened,” added Quiban.

He opened Round 2 with birdies on Nos. 11, 18, 2 and 7 before putting the punctuation mark with a wind-aided eagle on the par-5 eighth.

On a downwind, Quiban drove his first shot to 219 yards to the pin then sent the ball into the green to set up a tap-in eagle from three feet.

Among the compatriots who joined the 28-year-old Quiban in the last two rounds were Sean Ramos (70) at 138, Aidric Chan (71), Justin delos Santos (69) and Enrico Gallardo (68) at 139 and two-time Open titlist Miguel Tabuena, who rallied with a 68 after a 74 to make the 142 cutline on the dot.

“I was very comfortable today,” said Tabuena, who avoided the same fate as eliminated Angelo Que (151 after a 76) and Rianne Malixi (148 after a 72).

“For some reason, I was very comfortable today. I guess it’s just I really want to win and to win, you have to make the cut, which I did today,” said Tabuena, who avoided the same fate as eliminated Angelo Que (151 after a 76) and Rianne Malixi (148 after a 72).

Kaewkanjana stumbled with two bogeys for the first time here but offset it with six birdies to go nine-under for the competition and take a wider three-shot upperhand against his closest rivals.

“I hit pretty good on the front nine but back nine not as much. But overall, everything is good, I’m happy with my score today,” said Kaewkanjana.