BAGUIO , Philippines – Fighting off a bum stomach all day, Miguel Tabuena grimaced in pain as he signed his scorecard. But it was his rivals who left the John Hay Golf Club hurting after the ace teener turned in another bogey-free 62 and pulled away by three in the third round of the ICTSI Camp John Hay Championship here yesterday.
Tabuena, 18, kept pounding the stellar field and the rolling layout with his superb all-around game while fighting off dehydration, his eagle from the fringe on the reachable par-5 16th capping his second straight six-under card for a 19-under 185 total and keeping him three shots clear of Jhonnel Ababa, who sizzled two flights ahead with an eight-under 60 for a 188.
It also extended Tabuena’s amazing bogey-less run to 54 holes – the first in the five-year ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour – that impressed everybody, including Canadian coach Rick Gibson.
“Going 54 holes without a bogey is quite impressive,†said Gibson while shaking his head in disbelief. “And I think the thought of making his first bogey only adds up to the pressure that’s why he had that kind of feeling.â€
What struck Tabuena’s dad Luigi most was that Miguel last played John Hay when he was still nine years old.
“How I wished it to be a 54-hole tournament,†said Tabuena, referring to this event that was played through 54 holes last year but now a 72-hole championship and one of the eight P2.5 million tournaments in this year’s ICTSI PGT calendar.
Unwell and with a slew of rivals ready to pounce on his condition, Tabuena would’ve indeed wanted to finish it off quickly although he will have to endure 18 more holes before hoisting another championship in the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.
While Tabuena primed up for another title romp after posting an eight-shot win over Edward Reyes at ICTSI Sherwood, Ababa put himself in contention for the top P450,000 purse with that 60 sparked by a sizzling four-birdie start.
Ababa, who racked up three wins in 2011 to clinch the Player of the Year award but had a fruitless campaign last year, also rolled in an eagle from the fringe on the short par-4 No. 8 and had four more birdies to negate two three-putt miscues in another windless day.
“I hope to improve on my putting since this will spell the difference in the final round,†said Ababa, still upbeat of his title chances in the event sponsored by ICTSI and backed by Nike Golf, Empire Golf and Sports Shop, Mizuno, Titleist, Srixon, Foot Joy, Callaway, Pacsports, Custom Clubmakers, Cleveland Golf and Sharp with Balls, Studio 23, Pinoygolfer.com and Inquirer Golf as media partners.
Jay Bayron, the reigning Asian Development Tour Order of Merit champion, continued his steady rise with a 62, capped by a closing three-birdie binge to complete the championship flight cast with a 190, five shots adrift.
Tied with Rufino Bayron halfway through, Tabuena birdied four of the first 10 holes to seize control while coming through with splendid flop shots that either set up birdie opportunities and tap-in pars in times that he went out of regulation.
Rufino Bayron reeled back early with back-to-back bogeys and never recovered to finish with a one-over 69 while Michael Bibat, one down at the start of the round, failed to sustain a three-birdie string from No. 9 and fumbled with three bogeys against two more birdies in the last seven holes for a one-under 67. He dropped to joint fourth with Zanie Boy Gialon, Tony Lascuña and Clyde Mondilla, who shot 62, 63 and 64, respectively, for 191s.