2016 ICTSI Anvaya Cove Invitational: Tabuena takes Anvaya Cove crown in bizarre finish
Miguel Tabuena holds his trophy as he poses with ICTSI Public Relations head Narlene Soriano after claiming the ICTSI Anvaya Cove Invitational crown yesterday.
Tabuena blew an eight-shot lead over Lascuna with a horrendous 77 Friday but fought back from four strokes down with a gritty backside charge, turning what was expected to be a thriller of an ending into a runaway win as Lascuna blew it all with an uncharacteristic closing pair of 39s.
In the end, youth prevailed over experience as Tabuena capped his final round brilliance with a solid 33 at the back for that 70, finishing the 72-hole, P3.5 million ICTSI-sponsored championship with a nine-under 279.
“I was confident I can do it and I’m happy I made it,” said Tabuena, 21, who added the crown, worth P650,000, to his growing list of victories in a young career.
After taking the crown in brief rites, Tabuena rushed back to Manila where he is set to share center stage with fighters Nonito Donaire and Donnie Nietes in the PSA (Philippine Sportswriters Association) Awards Night as co-Athletes of the Year for his breakthrough season in 2015, capped by his Philippine Open romp.
“My driver was a big factor and unlike in the third round, the wind shifted to my favor,” said Tabuena, referring to his disastrous 77 Friday that dropped him from eight-up to four-down off Lascuna.
It was indeed a perfect weekend to the young shotmaker who launched his title drive in this kickoff leg of the 2016 ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour with a course-record setting 10-under 62 Wednesday. He slowed down with a 70 in the second round but kept a six-shot lead over Jay Bayron but reeled back with an ego-deflating 77 as Lascuna took his turn to shine with a 65 and went from eight-down to four-up.
But in a strange turnaround, Lascuna lost his focus and touch while Tabuena regained his bearing and rhythm, birdying Nos. 10 and 11 for the fourth straight day to draw level then gunned down another birdie from close range on No. 14 to wrest back a two-shot lead.
Lascuna still hung on to a two-stroke edge despite a 39 start but bogeyed No. 12 to yield the lead and bowed out with a double bogey on the treacherous par-4 No. 17, which also ruined Tabuena’s third day stint with a seven. He wound up with a 78 and tumbled down to third at 283 worth P240.000.
“He (Tabuena) played better and I played bad. How can you win with this kind of game?” said Lascuna, who fought off flu-like symptoms all week and sparked hopes of a brilliant comeback with that flawless 65 Friday only to fold up when the going got tough in the final round.
“I’m just too tired. I just wanted it to finish and take a rest,” said Lascuna.
Two flights ahead, Mondilla rattled off six birdies in the first 11 holes against two bogeys and closed out with a run of pars to fire a 68 and snatch runner-up honors at 282 and pocketed his richest purse to date – P430,000 – in the event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and backed by Adidas, TaylorMade, Pacsports Phils., Custom Clubmakers, KZG, Sharp and Anvaya Cove Golf and Sports Club.
Dutch Guido Van der Valk and Japanese Toru Nakajima finished tied for fourth at 284 after a 71 and 73, respectively, and split the combined P350,000 purse while Cassius Casas also rallied with a 69 to claim solo sixth at 286 worth P135,000.
Bayron limped home with a 76 and ended up seventh at 287 and received P115,000 while Charles Hong (71-288) and Korean Park Min Ung (77-292) wound up eighth and ninth worth P100,000 and P88,000, respectively.
Rolando Marabe shot a 69 to tie last year’s winner Angelo Que (72), American John Jackson (73), Canadian Rick Gibson (73) and Orlan Sumcad (74) at 10th at 293.
