SANTA ROSA, Laguna – Miguel Tabuena dethroned Tony Lascuña with a dominant performance while Mikha Fortuna scored a breakthrough win in the ICTSI The Country Club Match Play Invitational Friday, Nov. 24, here.
Unlike in his quarterfinals and the semifinals escapes Thursday, Tabuenna was in full control, scoring a 4&3 victory over that capped a glorious week for the two-time PH Open winner.
Fortuna was equally brilliant.
Banking on her solid shotmaking and putting, Fortuna overpowered Laurea Duque, 7&5, to secure her first professional win.
In the quarters, Tabuena rallied from a four-hole deficit with eight to play to stun Angelo Que, 1-up, and fought back from two holes down after 13 holes to edge Justin Quiban on the 20th and set up a title showdown with Lascuna.
Tabuena took control from the onset against the inaugural champion, going 2-up after six holes in a rainy final round battle.
He won No. 7, yielded the next and maintained his dominance until the 11th, seizing the opportunity to extend his lead and leaving Lascuña struggling to regain his earlier form, having previously disposed of Marvin Dumandan, 3&1, in the quarters, and dominated Elmer Salvador, 3&1, in the semis.
He came through with another amazing chip-in birdie on No. 14 to go 4-up and matched Lascuna’s output on the next to wrap up the championship worth P280,000 in a victory that augured well for his LIV Golf qualifying bid in Abu Dhabi next month.
Lascuna, who romped off with a 4&3 win over Keanu Jahns in last year’s inaugurals of the event, put up by ICTSI and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc., took home P200,000.
Despite the wet conditions, Fortuna showcased consistent play from tee to green, winning three holes from No. 5 to dominate their frontside battle. She kept her momentum even after the rain had subsided, claiming the first three holes at the back en route to a victory that highlighted a series of dominant wins.
Duque, who had bested three pros, including Florence Bisera, Apple Fudolin and Gretchen Villacencio, to earn a shot at the championship, found herself unable to gain any ground against Fortuna’s superb all-around game during their abbreviated match.
“It’s so special, this being my first pro win,” said Fortuna. “I just feel happy, I don’t know how to put into words what I’m feeling right now.”
This week also marked a significant achievement for the 23-year-old Fortuna, whose victory worth P280,000 helped erase the memory of at least three previous unsuccessful attempts in the regular Ladies Philippine Golf Tour on final round setbacks.
