Gutsy Tabuena 3 off the pace in Singapore

MANILA, Philippines – Miguel Tabuena turned in a two-under 69 and stood just three strokes off South African Keith Horne and former Philippine Open champion Berry Henson and two adrift of world No. 1 Jordan Spieth in an impressive start in the rich SMBC Singapore Open at Sentosa Golf Club’s Serapong course yesterday.

The young Filipino ace birdied the opening hole at the back then added two more to negate a bogey on the tough par-3 17th while spiking his 35-34 card on the par-71 layout with two scrambling pars.

That put him in joint 11th and emerged the best Pinoy performer after 2011 Asian Tour Order of Merit winner Juvic Pagunsan failed to sustain a birdie-birdie start at the front, fumbling with a bogey on No. 12 with three holes left at presstime.

Angelo Que, a former three-time Asian Tour, had a one-over card after No. 16 while Tony Lascuña, a former three-time OOM champion back home, fought back from a five-over card with three birdies in the last five holes but remained below the projected cutoff line with a 73.

Horne upstaged the tournament’s biggest stars by firing a 66 on seven birdies against two bogeys while Henson rebounded from a bogey mishap on No. 3 with six birdies as they grabbed a one-shot lead over Korea’s Byeonghun An and Spieth, who both carded 67s.

Spieth, meanwhile, showed no signs of nerves despite playing at the Serapong course for the first time.

He enjoyed a bogey-free run which he credited to his putting.