Tabuena triumphs in Sarawak Jr Masters

Miguel Tabuena became the first local jungolfer to score a victory abroad this year, ruling his division in the recent Sarawak Junior World Masters Golf Championship at the Damai Golf and Country Club in Kuching, Malaysia.

Tabuena scored rounds of 67, 66 and 62 to beat defending champion Leonard Chin of Malaysia by 14 big strokes in their division for players eight years or younger with a 195 total at the bunker-laden layout designed by Arnold Palmer.

Anthony See, who was the only other RP entry aside from Tabuena, completed a strong showing for the Filipinos by claiming second place in Class D.

Tabuena’s conquest of his bigger, taller rivals in the region comes after Dottie Ardina dominated the same age-group for girls by winning the Junior World in San Diego and the US Kids in Virginia last year.

The Sarawak tourney drew about 200 jungolfers from 13 countries, a huge turnout despite the dreaded SARS epidemic and the War in Iraq. For the same reasons, the Asia-Pacific Junior Championships in Jakarta, Indonesia set late this month was cancelled.

Gerry Handog, president of the Jungolf Foundation of the Philippines, said Tabuena’s victory is, indeed, a shot in the arm for local jungolf.

"Miguel is living up to his promise as a future golf hero for the country. We share with his family and the whole country, the pride and joy of this shining achievement," said Handog.

The tournament was organized by the Ministry of Social Development and Urbanization, Ministry of Tourism, Sarawak Junior Golf Foundation, and the Malaysian Golf Association.