TARLAC – Miguel Tabuena scrambled in a frontside windup to preserve a near-impeccable backside start, saving a four-under 68 and grabbing a one-stroke lead over Jhonnel Ababa midway through the rich Central Azucarera de Tarlac Open at the Luisita Golf and Country Club here yesterday.

Tabuena closed out the last five holes at the front in a bogey-birdie-par-bogey-birdie fashion, barely edging erstwhile co-leader Ababa, who shot a 69, for the lead at nine-under 135 with Dutch Guido Van der Valk turning in his most impressive 36-hole start in years with back-to-back three-under cards.

Zanieboy Gialon, who bounced back from an opening bogey with six birdies to force a three-way tie for the lead in the first round, bogeyed two of the last three holes at the front for a 73 and dropped out of the lead in the P2.5 million championship sponsored by Central Azucarera de Tarlac.

Tabuena, who came from behind to beat Tony Lascuña at ICTSI Open Championship at Wack Wack last week and surge in the Order of Merit derby, bucked a bogey mishap on No. 11 where he teed off with a cluster of birdies – four, including the two par-5s, then added another one on No. 3 to threaten to blow away the field.

But he hit a wild drive on the par-5 No. 5, recovered the stroke with a pitch-in birdie on the par-3 sixth, made a routine par on the next, but dropped another stroke on No. 8 before birdying the par-5 ninth for the second straight day.
“My target is to birdie the par-5s but I need to hit it straight off the tee since the fairways are tight and one mishit could lead to trouble,” said Tabuena, referring to his mishap on No. 5.

The par-72 layout, the only Robert Trent Jones Sr.-designed course in the country, continued to play tougher as it gears up for the Philippine Open staging in December with only 16 players finishing at least one-under after 36 holes compared to the 28 when Luisita marked its return to big-time hosting last May during the Luisita Championship. The cut-off score also rose from three in May to four-over total this week.

Ababa also birdied all but one of the four par-5s amd added one on the first hole to negate his bogey on No. 11 for a 34-35 round and a 36-hole haul of 136, keeping him on track of snapping a long title spell on the tour sponsored by ICTSI and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

Van der Valk birdied two of the last five holes at the front to match his opening 69 for a 138 and gain a rare chance to play in the featured group in today’s pivotal third round of the 72-hole championship serving as the penultimate leg of the 15-stage circuit.

Gialon slid to joint fourth at 140 with Mhark Fernando and Randy Garalde, who both shot another pair of 70s, Keanu Jahns, who carded a 71, and American Micah Shin, who rallied with a 69.

Elmer Salvador, winner at Riviera last June, also rebounded with a 68 but stood six shots off Tabuena at 141 in a tie with Rene Menor, who shot a 70, and Japanese amateur Yuto Katsuragawa, who slowed down with a 71.

Lascuña, who had looked forward to this event in an attempt to get back at Tabuena and reclaim the OOM lead, reeled farther back with wild driving and poor putting, limping with a three-over 75 and virtually bowing out of the title with a 146 total, 11 shots off the pace.

Joining Lascuna at 20th place are Jay Bayron (75), Rodrigo Cuello (72), Marvin Dumandan (70), Reymon Jaraula (75), Koreans Anthony Kim (72) and Lee Hyun Woo (76), Rolando Marabe (74), Artemio Murakami (76), Mars Pucay (73) and Nilo Salahog (73).

Charles Hong, winner here last May, matched par 72 for a 147 in a tie with Cassius Casas, who stumbled with a 73, Erwin Arcillas (72), Jessie Balasabas (72), Chris delos Santos (73), Paul Echavez (74), Benjie Magada (74) and Orlan Sumcad (75).

Other backers of the event are Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Callaway, Srixon, Mizuno, TaylorMade, Nike Golf, Sharp, Custom Clubmakers, Titleist, Rudy Project, Pacsports, Omnisource, Cleveland Golf, KZG, FootJoy, Silicon, Empire and Great Depot.