Young Tabuena hangs on with 2nd 68, keeps lead

GUANGZHOU – Miguel Luigi Tabuena submitted a second straight four-under-par 68 on a searing game going home to keep a one-stroke lead after the second round of the 16th Asian Games men’s individual golf championship at the Dragon Lake Golf Club course yesterday.

Tabuena sank four birdies against a bogey in the backside to highlight another solid round that preserved his one-shot advantage over Korean hotshot Kim Meen Whee.

“He hit the fairways and the greens, and just let the putts drop. He’s playing like a veteran,” said coach Tommy Manotoc.

The other Filipino bets continued to struggle, though, allowing the Koreans to stretch their lead to 17 strokes in the men’s team event.

Korea pooled a two-day aggregate of 418 after a 208 while the Philippines assembled a 435 after a 217, just one ahead of India, which had a 436 after a sizzling 209.

The Filipinas didn’t progress in the women’s side also paced by the Koreans, which shot a three-under 141 to grab the lead from China with a three-under total of 285.

The Chinese floundered with a 148 and slid to second with a 290 while Chinese-Taipei stood in third with a 293 after a 145.

Mia Piccio carded a 74 and Chihiro Ikeda improved with a 75 as the Phl ladies made a 149 and stayed at sixth place with a 306, 21 strokes off the pace. Dottie Ardina didn’t count for the second straight day with a 76.

Tabuena was Team Philippines’ biggest savior, showing tremendous mental toughness in a fierce showdown with Kim and, thus, staying in the running for a possible Cinderella finish in the games.

The Phl men totaled 217 with Jerson Balasabas adding a 74. Mhark Fernando and Marcel Puyat both carded a 75, one counting for the team in the day.

“They (the Filipinos) have to get their game going. The fancied teams are still adjusting to the course,” said Manotoc, wary of a charge by the favorites in the last two rounds.

The Filipinos went one up on the Indians who matched Phl’s 217 on Rashid Khan’s 68, Abhinav Lohan’s 70 and Rahul Bajaj’s 79.

The Philippines gained a big break as Abhijit Chadha, who fired a one-under 71, was disqualified on an infraction.

Going into the third round, Tabuena, who had a 136, is one up on Kim (137), three on Khan (139) and Lee Jaeh-yeok (139) in the men’s individual event.