MIGUEL Tabuena tries to pick up from where he left off, leading a compact field chasing top honors in the rich ICTSI Luisita Championship which gets under way Tuesday at the fabled Tarlac layout.
The two-time Philippine Open champion topped the last Philippine Golf Tour leg at Eagle Ridge last year before the circuit went on a year-long hiatus due to pandemic and other concerns. He shifted his campaign abroad, winning his first US title in the Idaho Open last September but struggled in the Asian Tour restart where he tied for 36th in the Laguna Phuket Championship in Thailand last December.
He hasn’t seen action this year, skipping a couple of Asian Tour events and marrying his longtime girlfriend in the US last February.
But he stayed in shape during the break, building up on strength and length that he hopes to flaunt in this week’s P2 million, 72-hole championship marking the start of the new season of the PGT as well as that of the Ladies PGT, which also kicks off its 54-hole tournament tomorrow.
Tabuena will face a slew of rivals who are all coming into the event with lots of enthusiasm and hungry for recognition, including multi-titled Tony Lascuña and former Philippine Open titlist Clyde Mondilla and legend Frankie Miñoza.
Others in the fold are Anthony Fernando, Gerald Rosales, also a former Phl Open champion, Manila-based Dutch Guido Van der Valk, Reymon Jaraula, many-time PGT champion Jay Bayron; former Masters titlist Jerson Balasabas, Joenard Rates, Marvin Dumandan, Mhark Fernando, Michael Bibat, Mars Pucay, Rufino Bayron and Rupert Zaragosa.
The top draws in the Ladies PGT brace for a battle royale with Princess Superal expecting a shootout with reigning Order of Merit winner Harmie Constantino, leg winners Sunshine Baraquiel, Chanelle Avaricio, Daniella Uy and multi-titled Chihiro Ikeda.
