By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Hometown hero Miguel Tabuena rocketed to the top of the leaderboard with a sensational bogey-free 7-under-par 65 for a share of the lead with Sarit Suwannarut and Sampson Zheng after three rounds in the International Series Philippines presented by BingoPlus at the Sta. Elena Golf Club in Laguna on Saturday, Oct. 25.
Tabuena, who started the day four shots behind two-day leader Sawannarut, blasted two eagles on the par-5 third and 16th holes on top of three birdies to post a three-round total of 199 and put himself in prime position of winning his first International Series title.
He had earlier rounds of 69 and 65.
Tabuena said he just tried to be “in the zone” and just focused on his game.
“I was in a flow state, which I wanted to achieve. I didn’t want to think about my score or my players,” said Tabuena, a three-time Asian Tour champion.
“It was just nice to execute my game plan (today) and do what I needed to do before the last push (tomorrow),” he added.
Equally impressive was Zheng, who carded a rare 10-under-62 highlighted by an eagle 3 on the eighth.
Starting the round seven strokes behind the Suwannarut, the 24-year-old Zheng opened with two birdies within his first three holes before firing that eagle. He went on with back-to-back birdies on the 10th and 11th, then carded four straight birdies from the 14th to bolster his campaign heading to the last round.
“I think I didn’t do anything special (today). I just stuck to my game plan,” said Zheng.
Suwannarut, meanwhile, clung to his lead with a 69 after shooting five birdies against two bogeys.
Also within striking distance was Yosuke Asaji, who was one shot off the leaders at solo fourth after a 65 for 200. Dean Burmster and Kazuki Higa put themselves two strokes behind with identical 201s after a 65 and 68, respectively, while Gaganjeet Bhullar posted a 67 for 203.
Multi-titled veteran Marc Leishman also fired a bogey-free 65 for 204.
“It was nice to have a low one (today), to just give myself a chance to win (tomorrow),” said Leishman, who has six PGA Tour titles and finished tied for second at the 2015 Open Championship.
“I had a good first two holes and sort of kept it going,” he added. “I think I drive it better today than the last two days, which was good.”
Justin Quiban posted a 69 to trail leaders by eight strokes at 207, while Angelo Que limped home with a 75 for 210.
