Tabuena, Pagunsan in Open

The country will be represented well when the Solaire Philippine Open, the region’s oldest national championship, tees off next month at wind-swept The Country Club in

Laguna.

Defending champion Miguel Tabuena and Japan Tour regular Juvic Pagunsan will be spearheading the local challenge in the $500,000, 72-hole event where an 11-strong Thai contingent led by the veteran Prom Meesawat will be trying to pry the title out of the hands of a

Filipino.

Tabuena turned back the burly Meesawat in a gripping playoff last year and is itching for redemption, even as Pagunsan will try to again win the local title missing in his collection and play in front of a local crowd for the first time this year.