Tabuena eyes back-to-back
Miguel Tabuena tries to follow-up his thrilling victory at Rancho Palos Verdes last weekend as he headlines the
ICTST Apo Golf Invitational which unwraps tomorrow at the Apo Golf and Country Club in Davao City.
While the homegrown bets, who honed their talent and skills around the quaint layout, remain the favorites to slug it out for the top purse, Tabuena is determined to steal the limelight anew after foiling Elmer Salvador and the rest at Palos Verdes to nail his second leg victory on the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour.
The ICTSI Splendido winner used two 66s and a 64 under preferred lie rule to dominate the field after three rounds but needed a gutsy effort late in the final round to produce a 69 and hold off Salvador.
His 23-under aggregate, however, still fell short of the all-time best posted by the eminent Frankie Miñoza (68-64-66-66) at Del Monte Golf Club during the 1990 Del Monte Open of the then premier circuit Philippine Golf Foundation Tour.
But with his form and confidence, Tabuena will be trying to at least match Miñoza’s feat although he expects a furious challenge not only from Salvador but also from a slew of Davaoeño shotmakers, including title-hungry Tony Lascuña, Cassius Casas, Jay Bayron, Rufino Bayron, Jhonnel Ababa, Mhark Fernando, Ferdie Aunzo and Marvin Dumandan and Davao-based American Micah Shin.
The flat, treelined and hazardladen layout is actually making its return to big-time golf in four years after Juvic Pagunsan beat Salvador by four to capture the last ICTSI Apo Golf Invitational via wire-towire triumph in 2011.
Meanwhile, winless halfway through the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc., Lascuña hopes to finally put it all together this week and bag the elusive crown.
“I just can’t seem to pull it off,” said Lascuña, after slowing down with a closing 69 after a fiery third round 66 to finish solo fourth at Palos Verdes. “But I’m confident of my chances at Apo where I expect the other local aces to likewise contend for the crown.”