Tabuena, Thai vet share lead

MANILA, Philippines - Miguel Tabuena underscored his growing stature by charging into the lead at the Queen’s Cup yesterday, firing a four-under 67 and sharing the lead with Thai veteran Boonchu Ruangkit at the start of the $300,000 event in Koh Samui, Thailand.

Tabuena, 17, bucked a bogey start at the back with a three-birdie string from No. 16 then negated another missed-green mishap on No. 1 with three birdies on the last seven holes for a 33-34 card at the par-71 at the Santiburi Samui Country Club.

“I’m pretty happy. I think it’s the momentum from last week and I just stuck to my game plan,” said Tabuena, referring to his victory on the ICTSI Eastridge Classic where he humbled the leading pros on the Philippine Golf Tour to nail his second leg win.

“I won the two events with the best players in the Philippines. Juvic (Pagunsan) was in the field, Frankie (Miñoza), Angelo (Que), Mars (Pucay) … the confidence is there right now. I hope it stays there for the rest of the week,” said Tabuena.

Ruangkit flashed vintage form and birdied three of the last nine holes to join the Filipino teener at the helm, one stroke ahead of another Thai bet Kiradech Aphibarnrat, who fired a 68.

Korean Hong Soon-sang bogeyed his last hole on No. 9 and settled for 69 to drop into a tie with Prayad Marksaeng and Rattanon Wannasrichan, also of Thailand and Australian Adam Groom while Mars Pucay birdied No. 18 to card a 70 for a share of ninth with seven others.

Tony Lascuna also holed out with a birdie to save a 71 for joint 17th.

The other Filipino bets, however, struggled with Jay Bayron fumbling with a 73 for joint 55th and reigning Asian Tour No. 1 Juvic Pagunsan limping with a 75 for a share of 73rd and in danger of missing the cut.

Angelo Que, a three-time Tour winner, and Elmer Salvador also stood below the projected cut-off line with 76s.

For a player in his sophomore year as pro, Tabuena has already taken quite a few knocks in his fledgling career but he believes it has only done him good. He missed out on a full Tour card by finishing $250 behind the 61st ranked player last season and at the ICTSI Philippine Open in February, he was in contention to become the youngest winner but stumbled with a closing 81.

“It took me a long time to recover,” said Tabuena of his near-miss at home. “I thought I had it but Mardan (Mamat) played so steady, like a veteran to win. I told myself that ‘you have many more tournaments to go, you’re still young, and to keep working at your game.”

Going for his first Asian Tour win, Tabuena said patience will be a key factor while stressing the need to hit the fairways and greens and then let the putting do the work.

“You can’t get ticked off on this course as if you do, you can shoot anything here. Hopefully, I can win here so that I can be more relaxed and not get too worried about my card like last year,” he said.