FILIPINO QUE LEADS AT SOLAIRE OPEN

  ASIAN TOUR NEWS RELEASE

Canlubang, Manila: Filipino star Angelo Que fired a third round two-under-par 69 to hold a one-shot lead over a persistent Miguel Tabuena at the Solaire Open on Saturday.

Que stayed on track for a fourth Asian Tour title despite missing a 10ft par putt on the last to settle for nine-under-par 204 at the challenging The Country Club, where blustery conditions made life difficult.

Tabuena remained in hot pursuit for a first Asian Tour win by shooting a 70 while Wang Jeung-hun of South Korea, who finished fourth at the 2013 Solaire Open, was a further shot back following a 68 at the US$300,000 Asian Tour event.

S.S.P. Chowrasia of India, who started round three in third position, was blown off course when he returned a 77 to share 23^rd place.

Que, a three-time Asian Tour winner but not since 2010, will not take his lead lightly as the talented Tabuena continues to snap at his heels.

“We’ve played together on so many occasions. I just want to have fun out there with him (Tabuena) again. He never gives up. He just keeps on coming. He reminds me of myself when I was young!” said Que, who traded four birdies against two bogeys.

With the finishing line in sight, the bubbly Filipino hopes to win the Solaire Open trophy in front of his pregnant wife, Tracy, and younger daughter, who were cheering for him on the 18^th green today.

“Hopefully I can finish this off in the final round. It is going to be a challenging round. It has been windy for the whole week but I’ve been playing solid. I want to keep my game up and finally close the deal again after four years!” said Que.

The excited Tabuena is bracing himself for a challenging final day against a player who he looks up to. The 19-year-old registered two birdies against one bogey to stay in contention.

“I’ve been waiting for the moment to win my first Asian Tour title since I turned professional. Hopefully it happens. I look up to Angelo Que. He is a good friend and very supportive on and off the course. He is a down to earth guy and hopefully I can be as successful as him in the future,” said Tabuena.

Playing in his second year on the Asian Tour, South Korea’s Wang charged up the leaderboard with a flawless round highlighted by a 15-feet birdie on six. Dressed in striking pink pants, Wang, who finished 76^th on the Order of Merit last season, believes he has the ‘A Game’ to cause an upset on Sunday.

“I learnt a lot when I played on the Asian Tour last year. I played very badly in 2013 because I was so nervous. This year, I feel more relaxed and I just want to play my best golf. I really want to win this tournament,” said the 18-year-old Wang.

 THIRD-ROUND LEADERBOARD

   Par 213 (3x71) Yardage: 7,206

204 Angelo QUE (PHI) 70-65-69.

205 Miguel TABUENA (PHI) 67-68-70.

206 WANG Jeung-hun (KOR) 71-67-68.

208 Clyde MONDILLA (PHI) 71-70-67, Akinori TANI (JPN) 69-72-67, Chawalit PLAPHOL (THA) 68-72-68, Richard T. LEE (CAN) 68-70-70.

210 Sam CYR (USA) 72-69-69, David LIPSKY (USA) 71-68-71, Simon GRIFFITHS (ENG) 70-69-71, Carlos PIGEM (ESP) 69-70-71, Matthew GRIFFIN (AUS) 68-69-73.

211 Sam BRAZEL (AUS) 66-75-70, Andrew DODT (AUS) 70-71-70, Nicholas CULLEN (AUS) 68-73-70, Siddikur RAHMAN (BAN) 70-70-71, Paul PETERSON (USA) 72-68-71, Bryce EASTON (RSA) 69-68-74.