Miguel’s shining moment

MANILA, Philippines — Miguel Tabuena provided one brief shining moment that will live forever in the hearts and minds of Filipino fans in a nation struggling in the depth of dark despair.

Tabuena sizzled with a stirring seven-under-par 65 – his fourth subpar card in as many days – over a sleek Sta. Elena course which he gamely turned into a platform of his guts, courage and excellent shot-making before a roaring and cheering crowd.

He reigned in the rich International Series over a powerhouse cast that included former major winners with a three-shot win.

“We did it,” he said as he celebrated the historic win with his family, parents Luigi and Lorna, wife Sandra, daughter Paloma, and fans and kin. He was a grandson of the late Louie Tabuena, the former Games and Amusement Board chair.

The unprecedented win came like a balm that gave the nation a brief spell from a clutch of crippling corruption charges that have pestered its image all over.

It was a week that gave the 31-year-old Tabuena all the components needed for a decisive triumph, and he exploited it to the hilt.

It was held in his home course where he knew by heart all the nooks and crannies and virtually even the blade of grass.

And he made his presence felt, crowding the top contenders early and responding to the tests from gritty rivals with a morale-boosting hole-in-one and sinking crucial putts for birdies and eagles for a record 24-under par.

He took the first prize of $360,000 (over P21 million) from the total $2 million purse and improved his ranking in his bid for a berth in the LIV Golf League.

And the victory is sweeter as the newly minted Pinoy hero gained the feat against some of major winners like Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed and PGA titlist Marc Leishman.

“It was a goal to win an IS event and I’m really really glad it was in the Philippines, in my home club, in front of my family, my friends and every one supporting me,” said Tabuena.

It was a great weekend for the country as Tabuena’s victory was as golden as the gold medal won by Olympic champ Carlos Yulo in the world meet in Jakarta a day earlier. They were a source of national pride for a beleaguered nation basking with honor in a brief shining moment.