GUANGZHOU — Miguel Tabuena became the youngest Filipino in memory to win a medal in the Asian Games Saturday when he placed second in the men’s individual event in golf at the Golden Lake Golf Club.
Tabuena, who just turned 16 last month, closed out with a one-under par 72 to finish nine shots behind runaway winner Kim Meen Whee of South Korea.
The silver finish was the highlight of the Philippines’ Day 6 campaign which also yielded three bronze medals courtesy of Japoy Lizardo, Paul Romero and Kirstie Elaine Alora at the close of the taekwondo competition.
Sprint legend Lydia de Vega was 18-years-old when she topped the century dash during the New Delhi Games in 1982.
Ramon Brobio was also in his teens when he captured the country’s first and only Asiad gold medal in Seoul, South Korea.
But Tabuena owns the distinction as the youngest ever, making his silver shine like gold.
The five-foot-three junior golfer actually led after two rounds following a pair of 68s, but slipped to second at the end of the third round, six shots behind Kim.
Tabuena made 14 straight pars that allowed Hung Chien Yao of Chinese-Taipei to seize second on the 12th hole with a birdie.
Hung, playing a flight ahead, was charging home like a locomotive until he was derailed with closing back-to-back bogeys. He settled for a 69 and the bronze medal.
Meanwhile, Tabuena made his first and only birdie for the day at the 15th and after dropping a shot on the par-3, 17th, held his nerves to par the final hole and preserve a four-day total of 282.
“I’m one-under right?” Tabuena asked his father after walking off the green.
“No son, you’re even par,” said Luigi Tabuena, a television and concert producer back home.
The elder Tabuena said that Miguel wanted badly to help the team salvage a medal, but the birdie putts weren’t dropping.
“Miguel wasn’t thinking of himself, but the team. Only when he was told that there was no chance, did he start thinking about his own medal,” said Luigi.
The father said he did not promise anything, but he knew Miguel had always wanted to have his IPhone.
“Not a new IPhone. My IPhone. There goes my phone,” said the proud father.
The Philippines’ medal bid in the team event was dashed after Jerson Balasabas made an eight in the par-5, No. 8 after cruising the first seven holes at one-under par.
“Jerson just disassembled after that,” rued national coach Tommy Manotoc.
Balasabas collected six bogeys in the backnine and failed to count with an 80.
Mhark Fernando, who is set to turn pro, fired a 71 while Marcel Puyat counted despite a 79 as the Filipinos ended up fifth.
Manotoc was nevertheless happy with their performance.
“It’s beyond my wildest dreams for us to contend, much more win a medal,” said Manotoc who had been criticized for fielding Tabuena during the recent Putra Cup golf championship.
The Koreans won the team event by a whopping 32 shots, capping a four-gold sweep.
Chihiro Ikeda closed out with an even par 72 and ended up tied for 10th at eight-over 296 in the women’s individual division dominated by the Koreans.
Kim Hyun Soo won the event at 11-under 277 with compatriot Kim Jihee taking the silver at one-under 287.
The Koreans went on to win the women’s team event at 16-under par, relegating China (5-under) and Chinese-Taipei (9-over) to second and third place, respectively.
With Dottie Ardina counting with a 77, the national team finished sixth at 25-over par 601. Mia Piccio did not count Saturday with a 78.
For the nth time, the Filipinos will be coming home without a gold medal in taekwondo.
Lizardo dropped a heartbreaking 10-7 defeat to Korean Kim Seong Ho after winning his first two fights in the men’s under 54 kg bout.
The score was 7-all when Lizardo slipped while trying to attack.
“I turned my back. I didn’t see my opponent’s kick coming. That’s why I was hit in my head and lost the match,” said Lizardo who was nevertheless happy with the bronze.
Paul Romero lost to Wei Chen Yang in the men’s under 58 kg. while Alora yielded to Feruza Yergeshova of Kazakhstan, 3-7.
Rey Bancod, Manila Bulletin
