Mardan Mamat

MANILA, Philippines — Teenager Miguel Tabuena made 10-footers look easy Saturday on his way to a five-under par 67 and a chance to become the youngest champion of the ICTSI Philippine Open golf championship at Wack Wack.

The 17-year-old prodigy, who missed the cut last year, trails Mardan Mamat of Singapore by a single shot going into the final 18 holes of the $300,000 event.

Mamat, a two-time Asian Tour winner, salvaged a 70 to retain the lead at 7-under par 209.

Joining Mamat and Tabuena in the championship flight today is South Korea’s Mo Joong-Kyung who is at 5-under following a 68.

Tabuena, a second-year pro, nailed seven birdies, the shortest at eight feet, and made two bogeys to score the best round ever since the East course was remodeled three years ago. The late Luis “Golem” Silverio owns the old course record of 64.

Also shooting a 67 was Korean Hwang Inn-Choon, but was still seven shots off the lead in fourth place in a tie with American Ben Fox who had a 74.

“I’m happy with my round,” came Tabuena’s understatement. “It wasn’t easy. I just told myself to stay patient and hit the fairways and greens and it worked.”

Tabuena is aware of the pressure.

“I’ll try not to think about it (playing for the title), just play the same way that I’ve been playing. Hopefully I’ll come on top. There was a lot of pressure especially when you’re playing on home soil. I’m happy I coped with it,” Tabuena said.

Tabuena made his move on a day veterans Antonio Lascuna and Ferdinand Aunzo faltered with rounds of 76 and 79, respectively.

From a tie for first place, Lascuna and Aunzo dropped to 2-over and 5-over, respectively, leaving Tabuena as the country’s lone hope.

Tabuena’s fourth birdie on the par-4 6 gave him a share of the lead with the 44-year-old Mamat, who birdied the par-5 5 but bogeyed the par-4 6. Mamat, however, regained control with a birdie on the par-4 7 to go 6-under.

After Tabuena bogeyed the par-3 No. 8, he made three straight birdies on 9, 10 and 11 to briefly grab the lead at 7-under. Mamat leveled it anew with a birdie on the 11, and took over the lead again with a birdie on the 13 to go 8-under.

Tabuena and Mamat both bogeyed the par-4 17, before saving par on the 18.