Thai ace remains on top as Tabuena ‘penalized’
STA. ROSA, Laguna – Thai Prom Meesawat lost the Solaire Philippine Open lead but reclaimed it later despite a 74, cashing in on a crucial two-stroke penalty slapped on the charging Miguel Tabuena in the third round of the $600,000 event at the wind-swept The Country Club here yesterday.
After a 70 and 73, Meesawat struggled in another grueling day at the long course, turning in his worst round at the treacherous course for a three-day tally of one-over 217, barely clinging onto the lead as Tabuena, who stormed ahead with a one-under 71, fell off it after being penalized for “hitting a loose impediment” in a bunker on his backswing at the par-3 No. 11.
A shot behind Tabuena was Dutch Guido Van der Valk, who carded a 74 in the eventful penultimate day of the 100th staging of the country’s premier championship sponsored by Solaire Resort and Casino.
“It was tough today. It was windy and to finish with two over par, I was already pleased with my round,” said Meesawat.
Making his move, Tabuena rattled off birdies on Nos. 7, 12, and 14 to offset bogeys on 13 and 15. But he eventually lost two shots after tournament director David Parkin ruled against his favor on a question raised by flightmate Nicolas Paez on the par-3 No. 11.
“There was a question on whether or not Miguel caught a leaf on his backswing while he’s in the bunker. His fellow competitor Nicolas Paez said he did. Miguel initially said on the course, he wasn’t sure, and he felt he didn’t hit it. But the proximity of the leaf was very, very close so Jack (Imperial) and myself felt that he had touched the leaf and then we penalized him under Rule 13-4 C,” explained tournament director David Parkin.
Tabuena begged off from interviews after the decision was handed.
With close scores by the leading contenders, a fierce battle to the finish looms today.
Meesawat said the strategy is the same all week.
“Just enjoy try to hit fairways, hit the green, and make some putts,” said the two-time Asian Tour winner.
He maintained his pretournament target of 75 or better.
“You know for this course, 75 is a good score but we can try to do better. I did two-under in the first day, which was five shots better than my goal; yesterday I was oneover, today two-over but still within my goal, Tomorrow (today) I’ll try to do the same thing,” he said.
Paez, just one behind the Thai veteran halfway through the event co-sanctioned by OneAsia and National Golf Association of the Philippines and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. made four bogeys at the back and limped with a 77, tumbling down to joint fourth with Malaysian Nicholas Fung at 221, now four shots off the pace.
Fung fired one of the three 71s with American Matthew Negri and Thai Natipong Srithong turning in the tournament-best 69s that hardly bolstered their bid in the Centennial staging of Asia’s oldest National Open.
Negri totaled a 224 in a tie with Jerson Balasabas (71), Thais Pawin Ingkhapradit (76) and Panuwat Muenlek (75), defending champion Steve Lewton (75) and Justin Quiban (73), while Srithong stood farther behind at 226 with Aussie Andrew Campbell (79), former champion Mardan Mamat (74) and local ace Angelo Que (75).