Tabuena assembles own 64, up by 2 shots

CARMONA, Cavite , Philippines  – Miguel Tabuena kept his fiery run despite a switch in tee-times, scorching the Legends’ backside with a 31 for a bogey-free 64 and a two-stroke lead over Ian Andrew of Indonesia halfway through the Aboitiz Invitational 2017 at the Manila Southwoods here yesterday.

As erstwhile joint leader James Bowen of the US failed to sustain his hot start and local ace Angelo Que recovered late to get back into the thick of things, Tabuena endured tougher condition in overcast skies in afternoon play, rattling off four straight birdies from No. 13 en route to an eight-under card.

But it was his back-to-back birdies from No. 7 that shoved him past Andrew as the former Olympian moved ahead at 15-under 129 while leading 50 others into the final 36 holes of the $100,000 championship serving as the kickoff leg of the inaugural PGT Asia Tour put up by ICTSI.

“It’s going to be tough tomorrow (today), especially with Angelo (Que) around,” said Tabuena, who made just one bogey in his 65 in an early start Tuesday and credited his new TaylorMade M2 driver for his solid game despite a long layoff.

“I feel comfortable with it although the key tomorrow (today) is good driving and putting,” he added.

The 25-year-old Andrew, who shot a bogey-free 66 for joint fifth with six others in the first round, actually turned in a more impressive two-day effort than Tabuena, hitting seven birdies, spiked by a three-birdie string from No. 13, to emerge the lone player with an unblemished card through 36 holes for a 131.