Tabuena joint 18th with 67

MANILA, Philippines - Rio-bound Miguel Tabuena fought back from an opening even par 70 with a three-under 67 yesterday, moving from joint 54th to a share of 18th, four strokes off Aussie Terry Pilkadaris and Thai Sattaya Supupramai halfway through the King’s Cup in Pattaya, Thailand yesterday.

Tabuena, priming up for the Olympics two weeks from now, put in a pair of back-to-back birdies on Nos. 5 and 11 to negate a lone bogey on the ninth as he carded a 34-33 for a 36-haul of 137.

Pilkadaris fired a 67 to gain a share of the lead at 133, one stroke ahead of Danish Joachim Hansen, who also shot a 67. Supupramai settled for a 70.

Compatriot Tony Lascuña barely made it to the weekend play with a 70 for a 141.