Whiz kid comes of age

TAGAYTAY ,Philippines  – Teener Miguel Tabuena became the youngest winner on the local golf tour when he captured the ICTSI Splendido Classic crown here yesterday, putting on a flawless, eagle-spiked six-under 66 to rally past a fading Ferdie Aunzo for a surprise three-stroke romp for his maiden pro victory.

The 17-year-old Tabuena came through with a superb birdie-eagle-par-birdie start at Splendido Taal Golf and Country Club to spark his fightback from four strokes down in a flight ahead of Aunzo then capped his brilliant round in overcast skies with two birdies at the back for a bogey-free, course-record 66 and a 209 total.

But it was not until Aunzo wilted under pressure and made a horrendous finish of bogey-bogey-par-double bogey for a 73-212 that Tabuena realized a dream victory he sewed up when he decided to join the pro ranks at age 16 last year following an impressive finish in the Asian Tour Qualifying School.

“I always try to win in every tournament, and this week I told myself to give it another try,” said Tabuena, also a former Asian Games silver medalist, who took the top purse of P200,000.

But it took the young pro 18 tournaments to nail it, a campaign previously highlighted by a fourth place finish in Taiwan Masters last year where he banked in P1.2 million, his lone top 10 finish in a young career marred by 10 missed cuts, including three in his first four tournaments this year.

A last-minute change of heart also made his breakthrough win sweeter.

“I was actually set to compete in the Panasonic Open in India also this week but decided to play here instead. So it’s really something,” said Tabuena, who banged in a 10-foot birdie putt then gunned down an eagle on the next after hitting his 3-wood from 230 yards to within 12 feet. He made a routine par on the next before rolling a 20-footer on No. 4 for that stirring four-under card after four holes.

And he made it against fancied flightmate Juvic Pagunsan, who skied to 77 and tumbled down to joint 12th at 222 with Jay Bayron (71), Anthony Fernando (73), Rey Pagunsan (71) and Danny Zarate (73).

Tabuena actually kicked off his bid in this kickoff leg of the 17-stage circuit with three straight birdies Wednesday but wound up with a 72 before adding a 71 to trail Aunzo by four heading to the final round of the 54-hole tournament sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

Aunzo, winless the last two years, hung on to the lead with a solid 34 at the turn and although Tabuena moved within one with a birdie on No. 10, he birdied No. 14 to regain a two-stroke lead. But he bogeyed the next two holes, enabling Tabuena to tie and eventually take the lead with a closing six-foot birdie off a superb 59-degree third shot on the par-5 18th.

Facing a must-birdie finish to force a playoff, Aunzo mishit his drive into a hazard and then struggled to reach the green in five for that 7 and a 73 for a 212 in the event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. He settled for P120,000.

Tony Lascuna, three down at the start of the final round, had a rollercoaster round of three birdies against three bogeys for a 72, finishing solo third at 214 worth P65,000 in the tournament backed by Srixon, Callaway, Titleist, Sharp, Custom Clubmakers, Mizuno, PinoyGolfer.com, Inquirer Golf, A Round of Golf, Studio 23, Balls, and Dynamic Sports.

Elmer Saban shot a 71 for solo fourth at 215 and took home P50,000 while Charles Hong shot a 69 to tie Jhonnel Ababa, who fumbled with a 74, at fifth at 217.

Frankie Minoza, winner of the tour’s final leg at Wack Wack last season, rallied with a 33 to salvage a 72 and a 218 for solo seventh followed by Peter Villaber (72-219), Orlan Sumcad (71-220), Marvin Dumandan (76-221) and Richard Sinfuego (71-221).