Tabuena struggles to joint 10th, cards 72

MANILA, Philippines - Miguel Tabuena barely survived a backside struggle and settled for an even par 72 to drop from joint fifth to a share of 10th halfway through the Yeangder Tournament Players Championship still paced by Thai Namchok Tantipokhakul and a surging Scott Barr of Australia in Taipei yesterday.

Tabuena, who launched his bid in the $500,000 event with four straight birdies at the front en route to a solid 67 Thursday, found the going tough and rough at the back in the second round, missing a couple of putts from close range and fumbling with two bogeys.

But he fought back with three birdies in the first five holes at the front before dropping another stroke on the sixth on a pitch-in bogey to card a 34-38 round at the Linkou International Golf and Country Club.

The 21-year-old Filipino ace, who lost in a playoff here in 2014, could’ve turned in a higher score but saved pars in four times that he went out of regulation at the back.

But with a 139 aggregate, the Rio Olympics-bound shotmaker stood four shots off Tantipokhakul, who slowed down with a 70 after a 65 for 135, enabling Barr to gain a piece of the lead with a 67.