Shin bags TCC crown as Tabuena bungles birdie putt on final hole

STA. ROSA, Laguna — Local-based Korean-American Micah Shin survived Miguel Tabuena by one shot in a nailbiting finish yesterday to capture the 15 million The Country Club Invitational at the TCC course here.

Shin made crucial birdies on the back nine and almost paid a price for his bogey on the final hole had not for Tabuena’s miss for birdie that would have forced a playoff to claim the top purse of 11. 5 million in the tournament put up by ICTSI President and Chairman Ricky Razon.

The 21-year-old Shin, based in Davao, carded a four-day total of 283 to edge Tabuena. Guido Van Der Valk of The Netherlands placed third at 300 followed by Tony Lascuña and Frankie Miñoza with identical scores of 302.

“I’m very happy, and I want to thank God for giving me a chance to win this,” said Shin, the winner in the Resorts World Championship last year – a tournament in the Asian Tour.

“I thank my family, especially my brother here – Owen Hong – for caddying for me. He’s not only my brother in blood but my good friend,” added Shin, whose next event is the Solaire Philippine from Feb. 28 to March 3 also at the beautiful but punishing course of TCC.

Shin made back-to-back birdies on holes 13 and 14 while Tabuena couldn’t capitalize on his birdie chances on 12 and 14 to take a threeshot lead.

Tabuena birdied on No. 15 followed by pars on 16 and 17, before the chance of a playoff loomed when Shin’s second shot for par landed on the left side bunker.

But Tabuena missed attempt for birdie eight feet from the cup, before Shin tapped in for bogey to cement his victory in the tourney held in honor of ICTSI founder Don Pocholo Razon.

“I was just trying to keep it on the middle of the green, but I kind of pulled it and the wind just took it just way left…. It went to the bunker and I hit it 8-9 feet and I didn’t make the putt,” said the 21-year-old Shin.

“Actually I wasn’t putting that well (today), but still I just kept on playing consistently. I was hitting my drivers really well, and that was my plan, just to hit my drivers steady, keeping it in the fairways, greens,” he added.