UNITED KINGDOM — Miguel Tabuena rode on two eagles to navigate through a third round riddled by eight bogeys Saturday for joint 13th place in the Asian Tour International Series England.
The Filipino wound up with a 71 for a 211 total with 18 holes to go, tying three others including major winner Graeme McDowell and Ian Poulter seven shots off the lead.
Tabuena, who shot 70-70 in the first two rounds, eagled the par 5 seventh and the par 4 18th, cushioning the impact of the bogeys that littered his scorecard. He birdied 3, 5, 13 and 17.
Angelo Que faltered with a 75 for joint 61 with a six-over 219 over 54 holes.
American Andy Ogletree, the current AT Order of Merit leader ahead of No. 2 Tabuena, fired a 67 for nine-under-par 204 entering Sunday’s final round at Close House Golf Course in New Castle.
Ogletree will take a narrow two-stroke lead but with five players all within two shots there’s plenty to play for in Newcastle.
He has won already this season in Qatar and will fancy his chances of cementing his place at the top of the standings.
But Saudi International victor Abraham Ancer is just two shots back after a 69, while unheralded South African Neil Schietekat finished with a 66 at Close House to move to eight under.
Australia’s Matt Jones and Spaniard David Puig finished alongside Ancer at seven under.
Ogletree came home strongly with an eagle on the par-five 16th, followed by a birdie to edge ahead of a stacked leaderboard.
He had started the day one shot behind overnight leader and playing partner Puig, who made a costly triple-bogey on the 12th, where he four-putted, to hand the lead to the American.
