Staff WriterIf there was ever a time for a Filipino golfer to rise to the occasion, Miguel Tabuena picked it. At Sta. Elena Golf Club, his home turf and personal playground, the 31-year-old produced a clinical seven-under-par 65 to capture the International Series Philippines title — and he did it with the sort of composure that would make even the statue of José Rizal crack a smile.
Tabuena finished at 24-under, three clear of Japan’s Kazuki Higa and Yosuke Asaji, who gave chase with rounds of 65 and 67 but never quite caught him. The victory — worth its weight in national pride and a hefty slice of the US$2 million purse — marked Tabuena’s fourth Asian Tour triumph, cementing him as the most successful Filipino golfer in the circuit’s history.
“I wasn’t 100 per cent this week,” Tabuena admitted after his win, having withdrawn from the SJM Macao Open just days earlier with neck spasms. “But somehow, we got it done. I managed to recover and adjust. It was humbling to see the support from the fans no matter what kind of shot I hit.”
The gallery roared as he fell to his knees after the final putt dropped on 18 — a moment that will be replayed in Philippine golf circles for years. “It’s truly special,” he said. “This is the biggest golf event the Philippines has ever hosted. To win it as a Filipino, in front of my people, is an incredible honour. My mom’s turning 60 this December, and it meant everything to have her see me win.”
A Field Full of Firepower
Behind him, Kazuki Higa, fresh off consecutive victories in Korea and Chinese Taipei, clawed back into form with a late flurry of birdies — four in his final four holes — to reclaim top spot on the Asian Tour Order of Merit.
“I spoke with my caddie on the 15th hole and we decided to finish strong — to stay aggressive all the way in,” the 30-year-old explained. “There are still many big tournaments to come, so I’ll just keep doing the same things.”
Yosuke Asaji, who’s had more missed cuts than hot dinners since August, rediscovered his spark with a back-nine 29 on Saturday and a closing 67 on Sunday.
A holed bunker shot on 17 — from a spot most players would’ve used for beach practice — summed up his return to form. “The front nine was pretty tough,” he said, “but I was able to go five under on the back nine, and that was my day.”
Overnight co-leaders Sarit Suwannarut of Thailand and China’s Sampson Zheng couldn’t quite match Tabuena’s fireworks, both carding 69 to share fourth at –20. Australia’s Marc Leishman led the LIV Golf contingent in sixth with a 65, while Legion XIII’s Caleb Surratt and India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar finished tied seventh at –16.
Even Dustin Johnson, the former world No. 1 and the tournament’s marquee name, had to settle for T-15 after a tidy final-round 67.
History Made in Sta. Elena
For Tabuena, this wasn’t just another trophy polish. The win at the International Series Philippines pushed his career earnings past the US$3 million mark and put his name above Filipino great Angelo Que in the Asian Tour record books.
But what mattered more was the emotion. “I had so much expectation — from others and from myself. This means everything,” Tabuena said, voice cracking as the crowd chanted his name.
For once, Sta. Elena felt less like a golf course and more like a national stadium. The International Series Philippines, the sixth of nine elevated events on the 2025 Asian Tour schedule, gave the country a taste of what top-flight golf looks and feels like — and Tabuena gave it a champion’s ending.
Next stop: Hong Kong, for the US$2 million Link Hong Kong Open. But for now, the fairways of the Philippines belong to Miguel Tabuena.
