MANILA, Philippines — Miguel Tabuena tries to make up for his last-hole foldup at Southwoods last Sunday as he shoots for a second PGT Asia crown against a crack international field in the ICTSI Wack Wack Championship reeling off today at WW East course in Mandaluyong.
Tabuena edged Angelo Que by one to rule the kickoff leg of the inaugural staging of the region’s newest circuit, also at Southwoods last August, before the Rio Olympian shifted his campaign abroad in search of world ranking points.
He could’ve headed for this week’s $100,000 event a winner but fumbled at the finish, three-putting the par-5 18th of Southwoods’ Masters course for bogey and missing the playoff which young Korean-American Micah Shin won over Thai Arnond Vongvanij.
But the 23-year-old former Philippine Golf Tour Order of Merit winner shrugged off the setback, saying it was a “learning experience” and instead set his sights on the next PGTA crown to be disputed over the old demanding course that requires accuracy more than length.
The 106-player field, including 43 foreign aces from 16 countries, braces for four days of battle of wits and nerves at one of the country’s toughest courses and home to the Philippine Open.
Tabuena, in fact, will be tested right in the first round as he drew former many-time PGT OOM winner Tony Lascuña and PGTA Splendido leg champion Rene Menor in the featured 7:20 a.m. flight on No. 1.