Tabuena joint 22nd in Taiwan

MANILA, Philippines – Miguel Tabuena rallied a bit with an eagle-spiked three-under 69 to finish tied for 22nd with three others in the Yeangder Tournament Players Championship won by Spain’s Carlos Pigem in a playoff at the Linkou International Golf and Country Club in Taiwan yesterday.

Tabuena actually went four-under on the early going with birdies on Nos. 1 and 5 and an eagle-3 on the fourth but the 21-year-old Filipino shotmaker stumbled with a bogey on the ninth and settled for pars at the back for a closing 33-36 card.

He wound up with a 281, five behind Pigem’s winning 276 after a 67 after edging Japan’s Shunya Takeyasu, who fired a 66, in a playoff.

Tony Lascuña also shot a 69 on a hot three-birdie start but the former three-time Order of Merit local golf tour winner still ended up way down at joint 69th with a 292.

Tabuena, gearing up for the Olympics in Rio next month, received $5,075, while Lascuña took home $1,075.

Over in Japan, Angelo Que fought back with a 68 to tie compatriot Juvic Pagunsan, who carded a 71, at 29th at 283 in the Shigeo Nagashima Invitational Sega Sammy Cup won by Hideto Tanihara at the North Country Golf Club in Hokkaido yesterday.

Tanihara won by two despite a 72 for a 274 as Thanyakorn Khrongpha fell short of his rally and ended up with a 276 after a 70.