Tabuena, 2 other Filipino golfers mount charge in World City tilt

MANILA, Philippines – Riding high from a scintillating come-from-behind win in New Delhi, Miguel Tabuena reached Hong Kong exuding confidence but wary of the challenges in the World City Championship, which unfolds Thursday at the Hong Kong Golf Club.

For one, the $1 million event is bannered by former Major champion Henrik Stenson of Sweden (2016 British Open) and 12-time European Tour winner Ian Poulter of England plus a slew of aces from all over all primed up for four days battle of power and putting at the short but challenging par-70 layout, home to Hong Kong Open.

But Tabuena is keen on sustaining his winning form that netted him a third Asian Tour victory in the DGC Open in India last Sunday that saw him overhaul a six-shot deficit in the final round to beat local ace Rashid Khan by one.

The 28-year-old Tabuena drew a 12:30 p.m. start with Thai ace Jazz Janewattananond and Aussie Travis Smyth on No. 1 with the ICTSI-backed shotmaker seeking more than a strong finish in the 72-hole championship.

“It’s great to be back in the winner’s circle and I really believe there’s way more room for improvement still,” said Tabuena, a multiple winner on the Philippine Golf Tour who scored a breakthrough on the Asian Tour in the 2015 Philippine Open at Luisita before claiming the 2018 Queen’s Cup trophy in Thailand.

Meanwhile, two other Filipinos are vying in the top-level event with Angelo Que clashing with Thai Thaworn Wiratchant and South African Ian Snyman in the 11:30 a.m. flight, also on the first hole.

Lloyd Go, on the other hand, launches his drive on No. 11 with Chinese Liu Yanwei and local ace Timothy Chan at 11:30 a.m.

The other top guns vying in the first Hong Kong event in three years are Taichi Kho and Matthew Cheung and leading amateurs Ratchanon Chantanuwat of Thailand, already a winner on the Asian Tour, and Chinese Ding Wenyi, the current US Junior Amateur champion.

But focus will surely be on the 46-year-old Stenson and Poulter, 47.

“We’ve seen the growth, we’ve seen the improvement and you see it on every Tour around the world – you see names popping up, strong players coming out of Asia,” said Stenson. “You see the amateurs getting the opportunity to play at Augusta and talent has just been kind of drip feeding from Asia for a long, long time.”

Stenson, now with LIV Golf with Poulter, slugs it out with Aussie Wade Ormsby and Chinese Li Haotong at 8 a.m. on No. 11.

“In Hong Kong, there has always been fantastic support,” said Poulter. “I’m definitely excited about the opportunity to come back. Every time we play in Asia, we see new, incredible talent coming through. But hopefully, I’m older and wiser enough to still keep them at bay for a bit longer.”

Poulter, who posted a record 22-under par in ruling the Hong Kong Open in 2010, will play alongside Sadom Kaewkanjana of Thailand and Scott Hend, also from Down Under.