Miguel Tabuena. AFP
Filipino Miguel Tabuena sustained his rise to international stardom by finishing joint fourth in the $1-million SMBC Singapore Open won by South Korea’s Song Young-han, who held off world No. 1 Jordan Spieth by one shot.
Tabuena, who broke through internationally in December by ruling the Asian Tour’s Philippine Open, carved out a final round three-under-par 68 at Sentosa Golf Club to wind up with a 275 total, just three shots off Song.
Tabuena picked up $45,500 (about P2.15 million) like Shintaro Kobayashi (71) of Japan.
“I know I am capable of doing good things, especially finishing so close to the world No. 1,” said the 21-year-old Tabuena, who will be honored as one of the three Athletes of the Year of the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) on Feb. 13 after ruling the local tour’s Order of Merit and securing his maiden Asian Tour title.
Juvic Pagunsan was the next best Filipino with 281 after a 67, with Antonio Lascuña matching par to be another two shots back and Angelo Que winding up with 285 after a 74.
Tabuena nailed three of his four birdies coming home but couldn’t pick up a shot on his last three holes. He had birdied No. 18 in the first three rounds.
He had earlier rounds of 69, 67 and 71 and easily came up with the most impressive performance of his young professional career.
Tabuena came into the event co-sanctioned by the Asian and Japan Tours after missing the cut by just two shots in the US PGA Tour’s Sony Open in Hawaii.
Pushed to a Monday finish because of thunderstorms on Sunday, the tournament resumed with Song draining a critical 12-foot par putt on No. 16, before parring the next two for a 70.
The very few shots that were played provided a lot of drama, with Spieth waking up needing only to can a 5-footer for birdie on the 18th to cap a 68.
“I had my first perfect round,” Spieth joked. “Everything was absolutely perfect. I didn’t miss one shot and I made everything I looked at.”
China’s Liang Wenchong, who ruled the 2012 Resorts World Manila Masters at Southwoods, was third at 274.
Wang Jeung-hun, another Korean who called Manila home during his amateur days, shot a 69 to be at 276. With a report from AP
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