Tabuena bags title in idaho

MANILA, Philippines — Rio Olympics veteran Miguel Tabuena scored his US breakthrough after a tour de force performance in the Idaho Open that ended last Sunday at the Quail Hollow Golf Club in Boise.

Tabuena, a two-time Philippine Open titlist, closed out with an eagle-aided two-under par 68 to rule the 54-hole tourney by four strokes on a 14-under 196 total.

The 26-year-old Tabuena beat American Brad Marek, who finished on 200 after a final 67, and earned $5,000 (over P250,000).

This feat should serve as a major confidence-booster and momentum-builder for the Filipino as he competes in the first stage of the Korn Ferry Tour Q-School on Oct. 8 in Nevada. He is bidding to make it to the PGA’s developmental tour and eventually take a possible shot at a PGA card.

The ICTSI-backed Tabuena put himself in great position in the Idaho event, which is part of the PGA Rocky Mountain Section, with a blistering seven-under 63 in Saturday’s windy second round for a five-shot lead against Marek.

In the final round, Tabuena showed poise in recovering from a double-bogey on the par-3 No. 4 and a bogey on No. 6. He holed an eagle on the par-5 seventh and a birdie on the ninth then sank three birdies against a bogey in the back nine to seal the deal.

Meanwhile, Bianca Pagdanganan placed joint 30th and netted $10,823 (around P542,000) in the rain-shortened Cambia Portland Classic over in West Linn, Oregon.

Pagdanganan carded one-over 73 in the last round to tally 217 in the 54-hole meet won by Korean Jin Young Ko (205 after a 69).

Dottie Ardina ended in a share of 54th with 222 after a closing 73. She received $4,217 (around P211,000).