Tabuena sets early pace in Super 6
WORLD No. 218 Miguel Tabuena produced the hottest of starts to take a share of the clubhouse lead at the World Super 6 Perth golf tournament at Lake Karrinyup.
Tabuena birdied nine of his first 10 holes yesterday to open up a huge early lead, before the Filipino settled for a seven-under 65.
He was joined at the top of the leaderboard with Norway’s Kristoffer Reitan, who posted eight birdies and a bogey in a strong opening round.
New Zealand’s Benjamin Campbell shared third place with England’s Richard McEvoy at five-under, with Australian Nick Flanagan among a group at four-under.
The group included Australian Brad Kennedy who was sailing along in outright third at six-under until he bogeyed his final two holes.
Rising star Min Woo Lee and fellow local Jason Scrivener settled for solid rounds of two-under.
Tournament favourite Thomas Pieters, who was battling illness on the eve of the tournament, also finished with a two-under 70.
Torquay’s ben Eccles shot a two-over 74 who Curlewis star Deyen Lawson was twounder after 14 holes.
Indian SSP Chawrasia shot a strong four-under 68 to put himself into the mix. But he could only watch on in awe as his playing partner Tabuena lit up the course early.
“Me and Terry Pilkadaris both (were just) looking at each other,” Chawrasia said.
“Every hole he make birdie, birdie, birdie, the first six or seven holes.
“So you know, nine-under after 10 holes — I’ve never seen (that) before.” Tabuena, who started his day on the back nine, said his game suffered once the TV cameras started focusing on him.
“I started to force shots that I wasn’t comfy with,” Tabuena said. “I started to go at pins when I shouldn’t have, and the bogey on the parthree (fifth) cost me.”
Flanagan tweaked his back before the Vic Open, and is still managing the injury.