Tabuena romps to 8-shot victory

TRECE MARTIREZ, Cavite, Philippines – The future of Philippine golf put in another brilliant performance to humble the past and the present cream of the crop, winning the ICTSI Sherwood Hills Classic with a whopping eight-shot victory on a closing 66 at the Sherwood Hills layout here yesterday.

In his most impressive outing in a young pro career, Miguel Tabuena outclassed the stellar field with awesome shotmaking, superb iron play and steady putting to turn what was expected to be a down-to-the-wire finish into a runaway triumph.

He totaled 12-under 276, emerging the lone player to submit under-par scores in four days to claim the top P450,000 purse in the kickoff leg of this year’s 17-stage ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour.

“I have to say I’m satisfied and happy with the way I played the whole tournament,” said Tabuena, who thus duplicated his feat last year when he won the Tour’s kickoff leg at Splendido before pocketing the ICTSI Eastridge crown.

That he did it behind an explosive windup spoke well of the character and toughness of the 18-year-old find, who braced himself up for a final round shootout with Toru Nakajima of Japan but ended up cruising to an runaway victory.

While his inward 32 finished off a badly outclassed field, Tabuena actually settled the issue right at the front with a flawless 34, pulling away from erstwhile pursuer Nakajima, who started the round just one stroke adrift but made the turn seven shots behind with an atrocious 40. He did recover with a 35 for a 75 but ended up joint third at 286 as Edward Reyes snatched runner-up honors with a 284 after a 69.

“This is the best golf I’ve seen him (Tabuena) play since I became his coach five years ago,” said Tabuena’s Canadian coach Rick Gibson.

The victory also augured well for Tabuena as he heads to the Solaire Open, an Asian Tour stage and the second leg of the ICTSI PGT, two weeks from now at Wack Wack where he will be ranged against the best in the region.

Charles Hong matched par 72 to tie Nakajima at third while Mars Pucay wound up fifth with a 287 after a 70 in the event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and sponsored by ICTSI.