By Rahul Banerji
Miguel Tabuena overturned a six-shot deficit to edge out overnight leader and home favourite Rashid Khan to win the second DGC Open on Sunday.
It was the Philippines golfer’s third Asian Tour win overall and the first since 2018.
At the end, a par on the 18th hole was good enough to give Tabuena a one-shot win on 12-under par 276 (68-71-72-65) in eth $750,00 event, while Rashid Khan returned an 11-under total of 277 (67-70-68-72).
Tabuena also became only the second Filipino to win in India since Ben Arda, who won the Indian Open in 1969 at the Royal Calcutta Golf Club.
Thai veteran Chapchai Nirat took sole third place at 10-under par 278 (68-71-71-68).
Two-time Indian Open winner Shiv Shankar Prasad Chawrasia was fourth on seven-under 281 (72-70-71-68) finishing with a four-under bogey-free round that matched Tabuena’s feat of keeping a clean card.
Making it a fine day for India overall were Gaganjeet Bhullar (69), Om Prakash Chouhan (72) and Honey Baisoya (72) all tied for sixth place at six-under 282 along with Thailand’s Suteepat Prateeptienchai (69).
The compactly built Tabuena fired seven birdies in a bogey-free card of 65 to rein in runaway leader Rashid Khan who started the three shots ahead of the field.
Chapchai, who made a run in the middle of the run was unable to maintain that momentum in the closing stages and carded 68 to finish third at 10-under.
Chikkarangappa S. (72), second overnight was fourth as his challenge petered out as the day went on.
Full flow
Though Tabuena played superbly all day, he was in full flow on the back nine with four birdies.
A second weather break in as many days also helped as Tabuena holed his birdie putt on 16 in the group ahead of Rashid while the Indian had to wait for the all-clear with his ball lying for a birdie putt on the par-5 14th hole.
He missed the putt, bogeyed 15 and 17 and all of a sudden his challenge had all but ended. The wiry Rashid went for broke needing an eagle to tie scores but his first driver off the tee for the day was astray.
The approach also went wide and while the chip-on was close, it was not good enough to bring him on par with Tabuena who was waiting in the clubhouse.
It was the sixth runner-up finish in his pro career for Rashid and the fifth since his last title in 2014. Last year Rashid was runner-up twice.
Tabuena got stronger as the day went on, playing what at times seemed to be nerveless golf.
“Nerveless was the last thing I was out there today,” he said at the post-victory media interaction,
Tough track
“The DGC is one of the toughest courses we get to play on the Asian Tour. I’ve played it many times before and it is still a test every time
“Plus Rashid is the kind of player you can never relax about. I know him very well, he is very aggressive so overall, I’m very glad with this result.
“I called my wife first after winning and then I called my dad and I told him that this tournament was for him. He went through a lot last year and we were very lucky in the end.
“He is doing very well now, but I missed half the year last year.
“I played less than 10 events last year and it was very hard to keep my card for this year. I was lucky enough to play well in the latter part of the year.
“I was very solid off the tee which gave me the best possible look at any pin. I was hitting a lot of three-irons, four-irons and my hybrid, so those were the money clubs this week for me and I knew that coming in this week.
“I was also very proud of the way I stayed patient this whole week, I just stuck to my game plan and came out very lucky at the end.”
Best shot
“I gave it my best shot,” Rashid said later. “There was nothing more I could have done today. Finishing second is not that bad a result and I’m quite happy to take that away from here.
“I have had a problem with my swing which I’m working on and I played this week only on my putter. And I just didn’t hole my putts today, that’s it.”
Chapchai, who once shot 32-under while winning the SAIL Open in Gurgaon in 2009, said, “My game is coming back with second top 10 after Qatar this year but still has some way to go.”
He added, “I have only just come back after two years off from the game where I was coaching my team of youngsters. Then I came back last year and definitely I need more practice. I need to come back stronger.
“But I’m really, really happy. I have been working with my coach and some results are starting to come but still a long way to go.
“Today I just wanted to keep it on the fairway and reach the greens and mostly I did that. Only missed the fairway on 14 but I came back well.
“Greens also were very firm, much more than last year but I have to say very good course, very happy overall.”
Also read: Rashid Khan overcomes rocky start, rain to take DGC Open lead
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