MANILA, Philippines - Miguel Tabuena hopes to flaunt the form he showed in winning the kickoff leg of this year’s ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour at Splendido as he guns for a second straight victory in the rich ICTSI Manila Masters unfolding today at the Eastridge Golf Club in Binangonan, Rizal.
Not only will Tabuena carry the proverbial momentum into the P3.5-million event following his one-stroke victory over three-time Asian Tour winner Angelo Que last week but also bring in the confidence when he heads to the par-72, mountain-top course where he snapped a year-long spell and nailed his fourth career win last year.
That despite a closing two-over 74 and a quadruple bogey on No. 15 off a pair of errant drives that went out-of-bounds as veteran Elmer Salvador failed to cash in on the young shotmaker’s shaky finish and finished three strokes behind.
But the pressure to go 2-0 this year and score a repeat at Eastridge could mount for Tabuena, who will be facing the same field he beat at Splendido, only this time Que and company will be focusing on stopping the 19-year-old wonder from coming up with another victory in the early going of the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.
“Miguel has been putting extremely well. Already boasting of a good swing, he has become a solid player since he’s putting pretty well,” said Tony Lascuña, who in contrast, has blamed his poor stroke for his mediocre finish at Splendido.