MANILA, Philippines - Miguel Tabuena and Tony Lascuña put themselves in early contention in the $1 million Singapore Open, turning in a pair of three-under 68s to trail Japanese Hideto Tanihara and Korean Kyungnam Kang by three at the Sentosa Golf Club yesterday.
Tabuena, coming off a joint 64th finish in the Sony Open in Hawaii last week, dished out another solid start, a bogey-free 35-33 he spiked with three scrambling pars.
Lascuña also carded a 35-33 built around five birdies but the 46-year-old shotmaker fumbled with two bogeys, including a three-putt miscue on the par-4 13th.
Still, the Filipino duo stood at joint seventh with six others and within striking distance of Tanihara and Kang, who produced identical 65s to seize control of the stellar field.
Tanhira hit six birdies to negate a bogey mishap on No. 1 while the long-hitting Kang gunned down an eagle and four birdies while saving three pars to preserve a solid 33-32 round.
Tabuena finished a strong joint fourth here last year, just three shots off winner Younghan Song and two behind former world No. 1 Jordan Spieth while Lascuña ended up tied for 28th.
American Seungsu Han and Malaysian Gavin Green carded identical 66s while South African Shaun Norris shot a 67.