Tabuena recovers, keeps top spot

Filipino Miguel Tabuena recovered from a double bogey on his opening hole to shoot a three-under-par 67 and keep the lead in the US$1 million World City Championship presented by the Hong Kong Golf Club Friday.

His second round moved him to 10 under par for the Asian Tour event, and the clubhouse lead by four over Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond, who also carded a 67, after the morning session.

Tabuena won The DGC Open presented by Mastercard last week and has lost none of that winning form this week.

He shot a 63 Thursday here on Hong

Kong Golf Club’s Composite Course, and despite the bad start he quickly got back into his stride.

“It was great, I was proud of the way I fought,” the 28-year-old Tabuena said.

“I didn’t get off to a good start, a bit of an errant drive again on the 11th hole (he started on the back nine), pulled it and had to take an unplayable. But told myself that there’s a lot of holes left, there’s two more days left, you know there’s no need to panic or there’s no need to be worried. You know you’ve been playing well and just got to keep patient and just trot along.”

The Filipino admits to not being far away from playing his best golf.

He added: “I believe I’m pretty close, like I said, I have a lot of confidence. But you also gotta learn how to control it right? Especially on this course you know, it’s very easy to be overconfident. So, just gotta stick to my routine, stick to my game plan and I know that if I do that, I will have a shot on the back nine on Sunday.”

Australian Travis Smyth (66) and Thailand’s Sarit Suwannarut (67) are next best placed in the clubhouse on five under.