MIGUEL TABUENA (MB photo | Rio Deluvio) By WAYLON GALVEZ STA. ROSA, Laguna – Prom Meesawat benefited from a two-stroke penalty imposed on Filipino bet Miguel Tabuena yesterday as the Thai maintained a one-shot lead over the former Philippine Open champion after the third round of the 100th edition of the Solaire-backed tournament at The Country Club here. Meesawat carded a two-over 74 for a three-day total of 217 in this event that offers a winner’s check of $108,000 from a record $600,000 total pot – the richest so far in the oldest Open championship in Asia. The story of the day, however, was the two-stroke penalty slapped on the 23-year-old Tabuena on 11 – apparently for accidentally hitting a leaf on the bunker. If not for the penalty, the Philippine Open winner in 2015 would have been up by one stroke for a third round 71. Instead, he settled for a 73 and a total of 218. David Parkin, the tournament director, said that it was American Nicolas Paez who made the protest. “Whether or not Miguel caught a leaf on his backswing and he’s in the bunker, he hits leaf and it’s a two-shot penalty under Rule 13 4C,” said Parkin. “His fellow competitor Nicolas Paez said he did. Miguel initially said on the course, he wasn’t sure, he felt he didn’t hit it but the proximity of the leaf was very, very close. We felt that he had touched the leaf and so we penalized him under Rule 13 4C on the 11th.” Asked to comment, Tabuena begged off, saying: “Sorry I can’t.” As for the 33-year-old Meesawat, who only birdied on 8 with bogeys on 4, 15 and 18, the Thai said that it was a struggle on the course and he expects another tough outing in today’s final. “It was tough today, the wind was blowing hard on some of the holes,” said Meesawat. “It was windy and to play with two over par, I was pleased with my round. Still one more day to go.” A thrilling for the final 18 holes looms as Guido Van Der Valk is behind two shots off Meesawat after he finished with a 74 in the third round for 219, followed by Nicolas Funk of Malaysia and Paez with similar scores of 221, and Australia's Nicolas Choi at 222.