Tabuena rallies, stays joint leader

MANILA, Philippines - Miguel Tabuena bucked a faulty start with a flawless finish, closing out with a four-under 31 for a 70 and keeping a share of the lead, this time with a new Thai rival, halfway through the Queen’s Cup at the Santiburi Samui Country Club in Koh Samui, Thailand yesterday.

Tabuena, who tied veteran Boonchu Ruangkit with an opening 67 Thursday, tumbled down the leaderboard with a bogey-riddled 39 at the front but fought back with a bogey-free 31 coming home, highlighted by four birdies.

That big rebound shoved the 17-year-old Filipino back to the top of the heap that changed hands a number of times in blustery conditions, hinting at a wide-open battle in the weekend play of the $300,000 event serving as the 11th leg of this year’s Asian Tour.

“I just kept telling myself to hang on as anything can happen. It’s not easy to win and you’ve just got to grind it out. It was really hard…the wind was very strong but after six holes, it started to calm down and that’s when I started to play better,” said Tabuena, who pooled a 137.

“I didn’t notice those birdies at the end as when you’re in the zone, you’re having fun. I think I’m on top of my game now. The first few events on Tour, I was very emotional but you learn as you play more and bigger events. I know now what it takes to win,” added Tabuena, who is coming off a two-leg victory on the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour.

Thaworn Wiratchant strung up three straight birdies from No. 12 and finished with a four-under 67 to catch Tabuena at 137, one stroke ahead of Siddikur Rahman of Bangladesh, who assembled a 138 after a solid 68.

Indian Anirban Lahiri also shot a 68 to wrest solo fourth at 139 while Thais Panuphol Pittayarat and Kiradech Aphibarnrat tied at 140 after a 68 and 72, respectively.

Reigning Asian Tour No. 1 Juvic Pagunsan joined the 140 group late in the day, holing out with an eagle-3 on the par-5 18th to fire the tournament-best six-under 65.

It was a big comeback for the smooth-swinging Pagunsan, who turned in a so-so 75 in the first round but put himself back into contention with a swashbuckling 65 that also featured seven birdies against three bogeys.

He made the turn at 34, his bogey on No. 9 marred an otherwise solid three-birdie binge from No. 6. Pagunsan hit three birdies in a row again from No. 13, dropped a stroke on the 16th before reaching the green in two on the final hole.

Ruangkit sputtered in tough condition and fumbled with a three-over 74 and dropped to joint seventh with Korean Baek Seuk-hyun, who carded a 73, at 141.

Tony Lascuna struggled with a 73 after a 71 but safely made it to the final 36 holes with a 144 while Angelo Que struck back with a three-under 68 to jump to joint 31st with a 145 and Jay Bayron stood a stroke farther back at 146 after a 72 in a tie with Mars Pucay, who skied to a 76 after a 70.