Tabuena, Quiban stay hot

(Updated, 4:47 p.m.) CARMONA, Cavite – On moving day, home boys Justin Quiban and Miguel Tabuena saw to it they made headway in the chase for honors against the foreign charge.

While rivals from overseas held on to the top spots in the Smart Infinity Philippine Open, led by new leader Tomoyo Ikemura, Quiban fired a one-under 69 and Tabuena sizzled with a 65 to move in striking position going to the final round at the Manila Southwoods Golf & Country Club.

Quiban, maintaining his status as the best-performing Filipino in the $500,000 Asian Tour opener so far, hiked his card to four-under 206 for joint 12th and put himself only four shots of Ikemura, who wrested control at 202 after yesterday’s 67.

Tabuena, who have gone on an upward trajectory after woeful opening of 74 followed by a 68, got to within five at 207 for a tie for 20th, threatening to stage an encore of his amazing fightback from six down in ruling the DGC Open in India in March 2023.

“I didn’t get really hot today but luckily, in my last three holes, I birdied two. Those were crucial because I was one-over (for the day) going there. But luckily I did that,” said Quiban, who vaulted back to contention after birdying Nos. 16 and 18.

“(Today) I’ll just stick to my game plan, try to hit more fairways and hit more greens and hopefully, make my putts,” he added.

Tabuena propped up his bid with four birdies on his last four holes, including a bomb from 35 feet on No. 9.

And expect Tabuena, a two-time Philippine Open winner, to be aggressive in today’s final push.

“I have to. That’s the only way that I can win at my position and I have to go low in the first nine, “ said the 30-year-old parbuster, who will attempt to sneak in from his flight slated over an hour ahead of the frontrunners.

Ikemura, a two-time champion in the Japan Tour, climbed two places up to No. 1 with solid nines of 32-35. He dislodged Thai Sadom Kaewkanjana, who had a rollercoaster 72 and at 203 overall, found himself trailing the Japanese by one.

“I’ve been in contention a few times but couldn’t win last year in Japan and Asia so this year my goal is to win,” said the 29-year-old Ikemura.

Behind Ikemura and Kaewkanjana at 204 were Thai Danthai Boonma, who torched the Masters course with a record eight-under 62, Swedish Björn Hellgren (66), Frenchman Julien Sale (67), Chinese Xiao Bowen (67), Australian Kevin Yuan (68).

A shot back from the third-running group were Korean Jiho Yang (66), Zimbabwean Scott Vincent (66), Guatemalan Jose Toledo (67) and South African Ian Snyman (69) at 205.