October 24: Local hero Miguel Tabuena (main picture) delighted his home fans with a stunning round that included a hole-in-one and an eagle in the space of three holes as he raced to the top of the leaderboard after the morning session of the second round of the US$2million International Series Philippines.

The 31-year-old, who shot a 69 on Thursday, started from the 10th tee with a birdie, but was galloping when he holed his tee shot on the par-three 14th, and then eagled the par-five 16th to catch up with overnight leader Sarit Suwannarut. He then birdied the 18th, second and third in a round of 65 that lifted him to 10-under par total at the halfway stage.

Patrick Reed, the former Masters champion and LIV Golf star, moved to eight-under par with a 66 that tied him alongside Denel Ieremia (67) of New Zealand. The duo was one behind Japan’s Yosuke Asaji, who was at nine-under after a round of 66.

England’s Steve Lewton shot the lowest round of the tournament so far at the beautiful Sta. Elena Golf Club, a bogey-free 63 that made up for a disappointing two-over 74 in the opening round.

Golf fans in the Philippines have turned up in huge numbers for the tournament, and they definitely were rewarded for spending their time and money as the home favourite raised hopes of a Filipino champion in an event that features players like former world No1 Dustin Johnson.

Patrick Reed of the USA. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.

On the 171-yard 14th, Tabuena did not see his ball take a hop and disappear into the hole, but the eagle was perfectly planned on a hole where he has forgotten the count of how many he has scored so far in his career.

“It’s not every day you make a hole-in-one, but I was glad I kept it together after that. There’s a lot of golf to be played, but it was nice. It’s been probably six years since my last one and only second in a competition. It was nice that it was here in front of friends, family and in my home club,” said the three-time winner on the Asian Tour, who had to pull out of the SJM Macao Open with a neck spasm.

“And then the eagle on the 16th. That was a perfect seven-wood for me. I don’t know how many times I’ve eagled that hole, so it’s very familiar for me. And that is my favourite pin position for that hole, so it was very green light for me.

“I slowed down quite a bit after the birdies on the second and third. But other than that, it was a pretty solid round. The plan was to get back in position for the moving day tomorrow.”

Steve Lewton of England. Picture by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.

Lewton, a two-time champion on the Asian Tour, also started on the 10th tee and was five-under for his first nine and four-under for the back in a bogey-free round.

“Just pleased to get around, to be honest. I’m not hitting it the best, I won’t lie, but I putted it nicely and hit it pretty straight, which is key on this golf course,” said the popular 42-year-old.

“I’ve been ill for a couple weeks. I picked up a flu virus at the back end of Indonesia, so I spent two weeks in bed at home. I decided to come and now it seems like it was worth the trip. I need a good week this week, my sister is getting married next week in Tampa, so I’ll clock up a few more air miles to Florida from here and then back to Singapore the week after.”

Johnson, who shot a five-under 67 on Thursday, had another double bogey on the second day, a seven on par-5 eighth, and finished with a one-over 73 round.

The International Series Philippines is the sixth leg of the elevated International Series events on the Asian Tour.