Tabuena’s ace, eagle spark home charge at International Series Philippines

Just a week after celebrating his 31st birthday, Miguel Tabuena produced one of his finest rounds in recent memory — a near-flawless display of power, precision and poise that set the International Series Philippines ablaze.

International Series Philippines

Que delivers too

(UPDATED 5:52 P.M.) MANILA, Philippines — For the host country, this couldn’t have unfolded any better.

Miguel Tabuena, the Philippines’ homegrown golf hero, delivered a masterclass Friday at the Sta. Elena Golf Club that electrified local fans and reignited hopes for a memorable finish.

Just a week after celebrating his 31st birthday, the diminutive yet dynamic shotmaker produced one of his finest rounds in recent memory — a near-flawless display of power, precision and poise that set the International Series Philippines ablaze.

And not to be outdone, Angelo Que produced his own moment of brilliance as dusk settled over the course, capping a blazing start with an equally fiery finish to card a superb 65 and catapult himself into joint fourth at 135 alongside four others.

Suddenly, the Philippines found itself not with just one, but two legitimate contenders in the thick of the title chase – a sight that ignited fresh hopes among the home crowd.

Coming off a steady but unspectacular 70, Que wasted no time announcing his intentions. The amiable Manila Southwoods pro, known for his fearless shot-making and unflappable demeanor, came out firing — birdieing four of the opening nine holes to rocket up the leaderboard. He carried that momentum into the back nine with another birdie on No. 10, shaking up the standings and reminding everyone why he remains one of the country’s most accomplished shotmakers.

A lone bogey, the result of a missed green midway through his round, briefly slowed his charge. But Que, drawing on the experience that has brought him three Asian Tour titles and two Philippine Golf Tour victories this year alone, refused to fade.

As the sun dipped low and shadows lengthened across the fairways, he closed out with a flourish worthy of the moment — three birdies in his last four holes, each one greeted with growing anticipation from the galleries that had begun to sense something special unfolding.

His late-round surge vaulted him into a share of fourth with Yosuke Asaji (66), Soomin Lee, Wang Wei-Hsuan, and Matthew Cheung (all 67s), just five strokes behind leader Sarit Suwannarut.

With Que now joining Tabuena near the top of the board, the host country suddenly boasts two aces within striking distance of the top prize – a scenario that could turn the weekend into a rousing showcase of local pride and resilience.

Trailing the Thai leader by five strokes, Tabuena teed off early, determined to make a move. Starting on the par-5 10th, the two-time Philippine Open champion quickly went to work – opening with a birdie, then adding fireworks to the morning with a spectacular hole-in-one on the par-3 14th that sent the gallery roaring.

???? Fan cam of Miguel Tabuena’s incredible ace in front of his home crowd ????????

Captured by Alex Viernes #InternationalSeries @asiantourgolf pic.twitter.com/rV0vEPucU9

— International Series (@intseriesgolf) October 24, 2025

Not done yet, he eagled the par-5 16th and closed the backnine with another birdie on the 18th, completing a sizzling six-under 30 on his first nine holes.

It was a breathtaking stretch that had almost every kind of scoring highlight possible in golf — a birdie, an ace, an eagle and another birdie — all in one stretch that turned Sta. Elena into his personal stage.

By the time he reached the turn, Tabuena was suddenly in the clubhouse lead at nine-under overall, his name atop the leaderboard sending a wave of excitement across the fairways and among Filipino fans following every shot.

He wasn’t finished. After a steady par on No. 1, Tabuena rolled in back-to-back birdies on the next two holes, momentarily threatening to pull away. Though the “law of averages” caught up with him with a bogey on No. 4 and a cooling run of pars afterward, he still capped the round with an explosive 65 — a 35-30 masterpiece that showcased not just talent, but timing and temperament.

Statistically, it was not a perfect round — 11 fairways hit, 15 greens in regulation and 28 putts. But in golf, moments matter more than math, and Tabuena’s brilliance came exactly when it mattered most.

“It’s not every day you make a hole-in-one, but I was glad I kept it together after that,” said Tabuena, smiling as fans crowded the ropes. “That eagle on 16 was a perfect seven-wood — that’s a hole I know very well, and that’s my favorite pin position there. It was a green light all the way.”

Pinoy star Miguel Tabuena talks about his smashing hole-in-one at Hole No. 14 of the Sta.Elena Golf Club that sparked his sizzling 7-under 65 in the second round for the lead in the star-studded International Series presented by BingoPlus in Santa Rosa Friday. pic.twitter.com/c1GQITvMsk

— Olmin Leyba (@olminleyba) October 24, 2025

His return to form couldn’t be better timed. Just a week removed from turning 31 and still fresh from a forced withdrawal at the SJM Macao Open due to a neck spasm, Tabuena showed no signs of rust. Instead, he looked energized — feeding off the home crowd and the familiarity of Sta. Elena, his home club.

“There’s a lot of golf to be played,” he said cautiously. “But it’s been six years since my last ace — and only my second in a competition. To have it happen here, in front of friends, family, and home fans, it means a lot.”

Even with Suwannarut regaining the overall lead at 14-under 130 after a fine 66, Tabuena’s 134 kept him within striking distance — just four shots back heading into the weekend.

Japan’s Kazuki Higa joined Tabuena at second after a 69.

And with two rounds left in this $2 million championship, the door remains wide open.

Former Masters champion and LIV Golf star Patrick Reed also surged into contention with a 66 to tie for ninth at 136 with Denzel Ieremia (67) of New Zealand and India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar (69), while seven others, including former Major winner Charl Schwarzel (66), former Asian Tour No. 1 Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand (69) and former Philippine Open champion Stevel Lewton of England (63) posted identical 137s for a share of 12th.

Meanwhile, Justin Quiban rallied with a 68 to post a 138 total, good for a share of 19th place.

The other local hopefuls, however, struggled to keep pace and fell by the wayside.

Sean Ramos actually made a strong charge with a 68 for a 142 aggregate, but missed the cut by one.

Keanu Jahns settled for another 72 for a 144 total, while Carl Corpus stumbled with a 73 for a 145. Aidric Chan also turned in an even-par 72 for the same 145 aggregate.

Clyde Mondilla, who opened with an impressive 69, skied to a 77, also for a 146, while, Rupert Zaragosa and Enrico Gallardo finished with 149s after 75 and 76, respectively.

But the spotlight, unquestionably, belonged to the hometown favorites.

Tabuena and Que’s inspired performances didn’t just lift them up the leaderboard — it lit up the entire tournament. Even Dustin Johnson, Tabuena’s flightmate and former world No. 1, must’ve felt the heat as he stumbled to a 73 after an opening 67 to fall to joint 37th at 140, 10 shots off the pace.

For fans, though, this second round was a showcase for the two Pinoy aces – their stirring resurgence from morning to afternoon felt straight out of a movie script.

With their confidence surging and the crowd rallying behind them, the final two rounds promise to be a festival of Filipino pride and world-class golf. If Tabuena and Que can sustain their form, they won’t just be contending — they’ll be inspiring a new generation of local golfers who witnessed how brilliance, patience and heart can converge in a single unforgettable day at Sta. Elena.

For fans, though, this second round belonged to Tabuena — and his resurgence couldn’t be better scripted.

With his confidence surging and the crowd rallying behind him, the final two rounds promise to be a festival of Filipino pride and world-class golf. If Tabuena can sustain this form, he won’t just be contending — he’ll be inspiring a new generation of local golfers who witnessed how brilliance, patience and heart can converge in a single unforgettable day at Sta. Elena.