Miguel slays ghost of Open collapse

TAGAYTAY—There’s no doubt now that Miguel Tabuena knows how to close out a tournament. With a flourish.

The sensational 17-year-old, who was supposed to be somewhere else if not for the late release of his visa, fired a course-record six-under-par 66 yesterday and came charging back from four strokes down to upend overnight leader Ferdie Aunzo by three at the ICTSI Splendido Classic here.

It was not only Tabuena’s maiden victory as a pro, it also erased the stigma of his final-round collapse in the Philippine Open at Wack Wack last month, something his handlers said taught the teenager valuable lessons.

Tabuena picked up four shots on his first four holes, counting an eagle on the par-5 second set up by a 230-yard 3-wood to within 12 feet. And while Tabuena put himself in the mix early, Aunzo crumbled under pressure in the stretch.

Counting his 72 and 71 in the first two rounds, Tabuena tallied 209 for 54-holes over the layout carved on the hills overlooking scenic Taal Lake. He picked up the champion’s purse of P200,000.

“I told myself to give it another try in this tournament, because I was supposed to be in India,” said Tabuena, who started the final round of the PH Open just a shot off eventual winner Mardan Mamat of Singapore but finished out of the top 10.

With his victory in the maiden leg of the circuit sponsored by the International Container Terminal Services Inc., Tabuena became the youngest Filipino pro to win a pro event in recent times.

Aunzo held a two-stroke lead after the 14th hole before dropping a shot on each of the next two and double bogeying the last for a 73 and 212 total.

Antonio Lascuña closed out with a 72 for third place on 214, a stroke ahead of Elmer Saban who fired a 71 for one of his best finishes in the circuit organized by the Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc.

Jonel Ababa, who teed off just four behind Aunzo, settled for a 74 to finish tied for fifth with rookie Chucky Hong, the Cebuano who fired a 69 for 217.

Former two-time Philippine Open champion Frankie Miñoza shot a 72 for 218 tally, with the fancied Juvic Pagunsan shooting a 77 for 222.
The final scores:
209—M. Tabuena 72-71-66; 2121F. Aunzo 69-70-73; 214—A. Lascuña 71-71-72; 215—E. Saban 72-72-71; 217—C. Hong 75-73-69, J. Ababa 75-68-74; 218—F. Miñoza 76-70-72; 219—P. Villaber 75-72-72; 220—O. Sumcad 73-76-71, M. Dumandan 71-74-75; 221—R. Sinfuego 79-71-71; 222—R. Pagunsan 80-71-71, J. Bayron 75-76-71, D. Zarate 77-72-73, A. Fernando 73-76-73, M. Bibat 76-70-76, J. Pagunsan 73-72-77