Amazing Tabuena secures Tour card

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

After crowning himself the new Order of Merit winner of the local golf circuit, Miguel Tabuena shifted his focus to the Asian Tour, aiming to secure his card for next season.

He accomplished the job in just three weeks.

Tabuena finished a fighting second in the Yeangder Tournament Player Championship on Sunday, pocketing $55,000 (about P2.4 million) that vaulted him to 26th spot in the money rankings from 50th last week with total winnings of $87,727.90 (about P4 million).

It came a week after Tabuena tied for seventh and picked up $14,500 in the Mercuries Taiwan Masters. He could have finished higher had it not been for a triple-bogey on the third hole.

“The bigger goal was to win the Yeangder TPC and have a chance to qualify for the CIMB Classic but finishing second is not bad as well,” said the 20-year-old.

At the Yeangder TPC, Tabuena’s back-nine struggles cleared the way for South African Shaun Norris to snatch the championship.

Consecutive bogeys on the 12th and 13th holes proved costly for the young Filipino who is chasing his maiden international title. And after reviving his hopes with a birdie on the 16th, Tabuena bogeyed the 17th, allowing Norris to clinch the win.

Tabuena closed with a one-over 73 for solo second at 206, two down on Norris who shot a 68 for 204.

It was the second straight runner-up finish for Tabuena in the event after he lost to Thai Prom Meesawat in a sudden-death playoff last year.

Tony Lascuña (70-209) shared eighth place with last week’s winner Danny Chia of Malaysia. Each won $11,475.

Tabuena, Lascuña and Que are all playing in this week’s Macau Open.