Prom Meesawat remains on top with gutsy 73

STA. ROSA, Laguna, Philippines — Thai Prom Meesawat slowed down with a one-over 73 but kept his spot atop the leaderboard as the winds bedeviled the field yesterday at the halfway point of the 100th Solaire Philippine Open at The Country Club here.

A day after firing a 70 at the long Tom Weiskoph-designed layout, Meesawat submitted nines of 36 and 37 in windy conditions but did just enough to stay at the helm at 143, one stroke ahead of Nicolas Paez of the US heading to the last two rounds of the $600,000 tournament sponsored by Solaire Resort and Casino.

Paez vaulted into contention with an eagle-spiked 71, one of the only two under par cards in another punishing day at the TCC, to close in on Meesawat at 144 while local ace and 2015 winner Miguel Tabuena stayed within striking distance at 145 after an even par 72 in a tie with Dutch Guido Van de Valk, who also matched par.

Meesawat’s co-leader on opening day, Mardan Mamat of Singapore, failed to sustain his form and limped with an 10-over 82 for the day and eight-over 152.

“I’m very happy with my rounds considering this course is long and windy and it’s tough for everybody. So just have to be patient, try not to get into trouble. That’s the key for me (so far),” said Meesawat.

Playing in the morning group with Tabuena, the 33-year-old Meesaawat bogeyed No. 11 after flubbing a five-foot downhill putt. But the two-time Asian Tour winner quickly bounced back with birdies on 12 and 14 inside 15 feet. He dropped another stroke on No. 16 and bogeyed No. 2 on a three-putt miscue but rebounded with a birdie from 10 feet on the seventh before holing out with another bogey.

Paez, who played in the afternoon flight, bogeyed Nos. 2 and 3 but turned it around with a three-under at the back, highlighted by an eagle on No. 14. 

“I’m very pleased with my round today (yesterday). To go under-par in the afternoon is quite a feat out here. I’m really happy to stick it out, grind it out,” said Paez, who split the No. 14 fairway with a monster 320-yard drive then hacked a 2-iron from 278 yards around 20 feet off the cup and knocked it down.

“I hit two perfect shots and perfect putt – that was clutch,” said Paez.

Tabuena also came through in the end, birdying No. 8 for the second straight day to salvage a 72 for joint third. The 2015 champion at Luisita birdied the two par-5s at the back where he teed off to go one-under overall but fell behind again with three straight bogeys to start his frontside bid. But he bounced back with that late birdie to stay in the title hunt in Asia’s oldest National Open co-sanctioned by OneAsia.