Go, Quiban sustain charge, but falls by 8 in Macau Open golf tilt

MANILA, Philippines – Lloyd Go and Justin Quiban matched outputs of 67s for the second straight day spiked by eagles in varying fashions but fell behind by eight strokes to a hot Min Woo Lee of Australia midway through the Macau Open at the Macau Golf and Country Club Friday.

Lee threatened to blow the stellar field away with a solid 64 despite a late tee-off as he assembled a 16-under 126 total after 36 holes of the $1 million championship serving as the 18th leg of this year’s Asian Tour that also features 10 International Series events.

Go and Quiban sustained their first round showing that put them in the title hunt midway through the day until the Aussie ace came in at dusk with a scorching seven-under card anchored on a frontside 30 for a three-stroke lead over Thai Poom Saksansin, who pooled a 129 after a 62.

Earlier, Go eagled the par-5 No. 2 to launch his second round bid then gunned down four birdies against two bogeys to turn in a 32-35 card at the par-71 layout for a two-day total of eight-under 134 and a share of 14th.

The Cebuano ace could’ve moved to joint 11th if not for a miscue on the closing par-5 18th.

He actually hit just five fairways and missed six greens but finished with 28 putts, including four par-saves.

Like Go, Quiban laced his 36-31card with an eagle but while the former made the feat in the early going, the latter did his on the 18th. He missed just three fairways and the same number of greens while ending up with 29 putts.

Miguel Tabuena, who sizzled with a 66 Thursday, snapped a two-birdie, two-bogey backside start with two birdies in the last nine holes as he slowed down with a 69 for a 135 and a share of 20th.

For the second straight day, Tabuena, whose campaign is backed by ICTSI, hit eight fairways but after failing to reach regulation three times in the first round, he missed six greens but improved by one putt with 29.

Three-time Asian Tour champion Angelo Que, however, missed the cut pegged at 139 as he submitted a 144 after a 73.

Over in Japan, Justin delos Santos carded a two-over 72 for the second straight day for a 144 and a share of 44th with a slew of others, including Juvic Pagunsan, after 36 holes at the Japan Open