Tabuena rallies to conquer ICTSI golf

Never, ever underestimate Miguel Tabuena’s ability to bounce back.

Trailing by seven shots at tee off, Tabuena produced one of the most brilliant rallies in local golf lore, firing a flawless 6-under 66 then pouncing on South African Mathiam Keyser’s errant drive in sudden death to snatch the ICTSI Luisita Championship in Tarlac City Saturday.

Keyser carded a 71 to tie Tabuena at 11-under 277 after regulation, but in their return trip to the 18th, he hooked into the water and blew his title bid with a double bogey.

All pumped up, Tabuena hit his 4-wood tee shot into the fairway, hacked a wedge shot from 104 yards barely on the green, pitched to within four feet for the par that netted him the $10,500 top purse.

“I’m very happy because I made it despite the odds where I trailed all throughout,” said Tabuena, who started with a 73 then wheeled himself into contention with back-to-back 69s.

The 22-year-old Tabuena’s 11-under aggregate with Keyser will stand as the official record at the quaint layout, according to Luisita general manager Jeric Hechanova.

“He’s good, he deserved the win,” said Keyser of Tabuena, who’s thoroughly familiar with the course, having ruled the CAT (Central Azucarera de Tarlac) Open and the rain-shortened Philippine Open there in 2015.

In last year’s Open won by Tony Lascuña, Tabuena withdrew in the second round with a bad back. —ROY LUARCA