LOCAL campaigner Miguel Tabuena, falling under pressure on the last day, settled for a share of third place with Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai last Sunday at the close of the Resorts World Manila Masters at the Manila Southwoods in Carmona, Cavite.
The two finished with rounds of 67 and 69 after 72 holes of the US$1 million event to finish with an identical 270.
Asian Tour rookie Micah Lauren Shin of the United States who took the crown.
“It was a learning experience. My aim today was to contend for the trophy and I’m proud of myself that I managed to do that,” said Tabuena, who had rounds of 68-69-64-69.
With his performance, Tabuena remained the best-placed Filipino at the Resorts World Manila Masters for the second consecutive year.
He finished tied at 13th in 2016.
Shin, a Korean-American, overcame an early two-shot penalty incurred at the opening hole and defeated Thailand’s Arnond Vongvanij at the first play-off hole to claim the top honors.
Shin was set back by two shots after having discovered he had 15 clubs in his bag.
But that mistake along with another bogey on the third hole only spurred the 20-year-old to force his way back into contention.
He began his charge starting with a birdie on the fourth hole before firing three successive birdies starting from seven.
Then, Shin added another four birdies in his inward-nine to earn a play-off spot with Arnond, who had closed with a five-under-par 67.
The two were tied at 19-under-par 269 in regulation play.
At the first play-off hole on the par-five 18, Shin gained the early advantage by finding the fairway with his tee shot while Arnond’s landed in the left rough.
After getting onto the green in three, Arnond missed his seven-foot birdie putt while Shin made no mistake in sinking his from inside four feet to win his maiden Asian Tour title.
“I haven’t been putting well in the first three rounds but I putted really well today. I got a two-shot penalty on the opening hole for having too many clubs in my bag. But after that, I kept telling myself maybe it needed that penalty to keep me on my toes and focus more,” said Shin.
The other sponsors of the Resorts World Manila Masters Presented by Philippine Department of Tourism include Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club (Host venue), Marriott (Hotel Partner) Konami, Scientific Games, Aristocrat, Levelwear, IGT Asia Pte Ldt, Empire Automation, VYCON RGD LTD, PLDT Enterprise, Ecco Golf and Dalmore.
Shin was vying to break into the top-60 at the start of the week. He took home US$180,000 to move to 14th place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit.
Leading Scores after round 4 of the Resorts World Manila Masters being played at the par 72, 7317 Yards Manila Southwoods GcC course (am – denotes amateur):
269 – Micah Lauren SHIN (USA) 64-72-66-67, Arnond VONGVANIJ (THA) 65-67-70-67.
270 – Phachara KHONGWATMAI (THA) 67-65-71-67, Miguel TABUENA (PHI) 68-69-64-69.
272 – Justin QUIBAN (PHI) 66-66-70-70, Jyoti RANDHAWA (IND) 70-64-67-71.
273 – Paul PETERSON (USA) 69-67-70-67, Gavin GREEN (MAS) 71-67-67-68, Jarin TODD (USA) 68-66-69-70.
274 – Junsung KIM (KOR) 67-69-73-65, Tirawat KAEWSIRIBANDIT (THA) 71-68-69-66, S.S.P. CHAWRASIA (IND) 66-68-69-71.
275 – Ajeetesh SANDHU (IND) 72-67-69-67, Suradit YONGCHAROENCHAI (THA) 71-65-70-69, Richard T. LEE (CAN) 66-69-70-70, LIU Yan-wei (CHN) 69-67-69-70.
276 – Yuto KATSURAGAWA (am, JPN) 68-70-70-68, Danny CHIA (MAS) 68-68-71-69, Arjun ATWAL (IND) 67-67-71-71.
277 – Chanat SAKULPOLPHAISAN (THA) 71-70-71-65, HUNG Chien-yao (TPE) 74-68-66-69, Shiv KAPUR (IND) 71-68-69-69, Gaganjeet BHULLAR (IND) 67-71-69-70, Pavit TANGKAMOLPRASERT (THA) 69-67-70-71, Namchok TANTIPOKHAKUL (THA) 74-65-63-75.
278 – LIANG Wen-chong (CHN) 69-68-73-68, Chapchai NIRAT (THA) 71-68-70-69, Honey BAISOYA (IND) 71-71-66-70.
279 – Terry PILKADARIS (AUS) 72-70-69-68, Casey O’TOOLE (USA) 69-69-73-68, Jake HIGGINBOTTOM (AUS) 72-69-69-69, Yikeun CHANG (KOR) 67-71-72-69, Khalin JOSHI (IND) 70-70-70-69, Prom MEESAWAT (THA) 65-69-75-70, Sihwan KIM (USA) 70-70-69-70, Marcus BOTH (AUS) 69-70-70-70, Keith HORNE (RSA) 71-66-70-72, Steve LEWTON (ENG) 67-68-71-73.