The China Mail - Hometown hero Tabuena shoots 65 to eye International Series glory

Tabuena followed his hole-in-one Friday with two eagles and three birdies to electrify the Filipino fans for a second day running at his home Sta. Elena Golf Club, south of Manila.

He moved to 17-under par, level with overnight leader Sarit Suwannarut of Thailand, who shot 69, and Sampson Zheng of China, who carded the round of the day, a brilliant 10-under 62.

They will form the final group on Sunday but it is the Filipino, Tabuena, who will carry home hopes as he chases glory in the $2 million elevated Asian Tour event.

"It was crazy. I haven't played in front of that many people for a long time," Tabuena, a three-time winner on the Asian Tour, said after his second successive 65.

"It makes it even more special that it is in the Philippines."

The powerful Zheng had eight birdies and an eagle in a sparkling 62 which enabled him to come from seven shots behind Sarit at the start of the day and muscle into Sunday's final group.

"Just hit a lot of greens and made a lot of putts," said Zheng, who improved on his second-round 66.

"The last two days I've played some tremendous golf, so if I could repeat that, that would be the goal."

Sarit went into the final round of the Macau Open a week ago with a two-shot lead only to card a three-over 73 and finish fourth.

He began his round on Saturday with a four-shot cushion but saw it whittled away by the charging Zheng and playing partner Tabuena.

"Ah, it was tough one," Sarit admitted after a round that featured five birdies and two bogeys.

"I mean, I didn't hit my driver as good as the first two days, and the pins were a little bit tougher. I'll say overall solid, but not as good as I want."

Lurking one stroke behind the leading trio is Japan's Yosuke Asaji, who was level par for his round at the turn but blitzed the back nine with seven birdies in a 65 that took him to 16-under par.

South Africa's Dean Burmester (65) and Japan's Kazuki Higa (68) are two strokes further back in a tie for fifth at 14-under par.

The major winners playing this week in the most prestigious tournament ever staged in the Philippines failed to make a third-round impact.

The 2018 Masters champion Patrick Reed had a 71 that took him to nine-under, one ahead of fellow American and two-time major winner Dustin Johnson, who shot 68.

Charl Schwartzel, the 2011 US Masters champion from South Africa, carded a three-under 69 to get to 10-under.

R.Lin--ThChM