Philippines’ Miguel Luis Tabuena competes in the men’s individual stroke play at the Olympic Golf course during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro on August 11, 2016. AFP / Emmanuel DUNAND
RIO DE JANEIRO—Miguel Tabuena birdied two of the last three holes in a fighting finish to salvage a one-under-par 70 to close out his unprecedented Olympic stint at the 31st Summer Games here.
The 21-year-old reigning Philippine Open champion finally conquered the 7,128-yard links course of Olimpico de Golfe, thanks to a birdie at the par-5 last hole.
Counting his earlier rounds of 73, 75 and 73, Tabuena totalled 291, far behind the tournament leaders but surely an achievement for one who had been playing through a shoulder pain.
“Finally got the course napping,” said Tabuena. “I promised to finish the tournament and I did. It’s a great feeling.”
He wound up far behind the leaders but his final-round play proved that he belonged in the tournament, the first gold competition in the Olympics in 112 years.
Great Britain’s Justin Rose kept his one-shot lead over British Open winner Henrik Stenson through five holes. Two-day leader Marcus Fraser lay three strokes off the pace.
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