Miguel Tabuena gave Filipino fans plenty to cheer for on Friday, firing a stunning seven-under-par 65 highlighted by a hole-in-one and an eagle to grab the clubhouse lead midway through the International Series Philippines presented by BingoPlus at Sta. Elena Golf Club.
Playing under calm morning conditions, the three-time Asian Tour winner took advantage of his early start, carving out a round that mixed precision with patience. Beginning on the 10th hole, Tabuena opened with a birdie before delivering the shot of the day — a perfectly struck 8-iron that found the cup from 171 yards on the par-3 14th.
The ace sparked a surge of momentum. Tabuena eagled the par-5 16th, then added another birdie on the 18th to complete a blistering six-under 30 on his opening nine. He closed with three more birdies and a lone bogey on the front nine for a two-round total of 134, following an opening 69.
For Tabuena, the round was a welcome return to form after a neck spasm forced his withdrawal from the SJM Macao Open earlier this month. A week after celebrating his 31st birthday, he said his focus now is on recovery and consistency for the final two days.
“There’s still a lot of golf left,” Tabuena said. “I just have to stick to the game plan and take care of my body. It’s getting steamy out there.”
