By Waylon Galvez
Miguel Tabuena is looking forward for a better performance when he returns to action starting next week in the 100th Solaire Philippine Open at The Country Club in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.
Tabuena, 23, came short of winning a second straight TCC Invitational last week when he lost to Korean-born American Micah Shin by a shot, and understands that he must be well prepared for the PH Open.
“I have to go back to the drawing board, play better. The event has more of an international field,” said Tabuena, one of the country’s top bets to capture the Centennial edition of the tournament.
“I have to be ready. I’m sure the other players would prepare better also. They have an idea of the course, how tough it is and the wind. So I have to prepare better,” said Tabuena, the 2015 PH Open champion.
In the four-day TCC Invitational, Tabuena shot a 4-under par with a total score of 284, and he said he felt good with his game and he hopes to carry that form in the PH Open set to start February 28.
Shin, a first time winner in the TCC Invitational, is looking forward to sustain the momentum as he aims for the title, which offers a total pot of $600,000, the richest PH Open in history.
“I’m looking forward to that, I really feel confident. This was actually a practice tournament for that tournament,” said the 21-year-old Shin, who now resides in Davao City.
Aside from Tabuena, the other top local bets for the PH Open are Tony Lascuña, Angelo Que, Frankie Miñoza and possibly Juvic Pagunsan, who skipped the previous TCC Invitational.
As for the foreign flavor, expected to see action are defending champion Steve Lewton, former Open winners Mardan Mamat of Singapore, Australia’s Marcus Both and Spain’s Miguel Jimenez, son of Miguel Angel Jimenez.
Despite strong finishes in two Asian Tour events and a runner-up effort in last week’s The Country Club Invitational, Miguel Tabuena still feels the need to get better to bolster his bid for a second Solaire Philippine Open crown in four years.
