Tabuena, Lascuña aim for RWM Masters crown

MANILA, Philippines – Young ace Miguel Tabuena and veteran Tony Lascuña have set their sights on winning the Resorts World Manila Masters when they slug it out with the best in the region in the $1 million event on Nov. 10-13 at the Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club’s Masters course in Carmona, Cavite.

The local favorites are hoping to cash in on their familiarity with the well-kept hazard-laden layout with the 22-year-old Tabuena enjoying a stellar season where he is currently ranked in the top-five of the Asian Tour Order of Merit.

The reigning Philippine Open champion also saw action in the Olympic Games in Rio last August and will later represent the country again at the World Cup of Golf in Melbourne, also next month.

“It would be great if I have the opportunity to win the Resorts World Manila Masters,” said Tabuena. “There’s always added pressure whenever you play at home. We’re expected to do something out of the ordinary but I guess we’ll have to treat it like any other event.

“It is the biggest tournament in the Philippines and it’s good for the local golfers to compete in it. We have world-class talent and it would be great for them to perform well,” he added.

Tabuena finished 50th, 47th and 18th in the first three editions of the country’s richest tournament and he hopes the trend continues to improve as he seeks to acquire two of the biggest golf tournaments in the Philippines.

“I play at Southwoods almost every day. We know all the conditions that can happen, and we know all the pin placements and the nuances of the greens. The club changed some of the greens so it’s nice to get a first look at some of them,” he said.

Since breaking through for his maiden Asian Tour victory on home soil last December, Tabuena has grown in stature, with two runner-up finishes in Malaysia and Chinese Taipei being among the highlights this season.

A second win is what he is after and achieving it at the Resorts World Manila Masters would cap a memorable season.

Lascuña, meanwhile, has made all the cuts at the Resorts World Manila Masters with a top-25 finish being his best.