SANTA ROSA, Laguna — Miguel Tabuena and Angelo Que fashioned out similar dominating wins to set up a quarterfinal encounter Thursday in the ICTSI The Country Club Match Play Invitational.
Tabuena, who eased past fellow Asian Tour campaigner Lloyd Go, 3&2, in Tuesday’s first round of the P2 million championship at the TCC course here, took four of the first eight holes and coasted to a 6&5 romp over Rupert Zaragosa.
He moved to the Last 8 against fellow former Philippine Open champion Que at 7:34 a.m.
The three-time Asian Tour titlist also displayed formidable form, clipping Ira Alido early on by winning three of the first eight holes on his way to claiming a 6&4 victory in blustery conditions at the long, demanding, well-kept layout.
He routed Minseong Kim, also of Korea, 7&5, in the first round of the knockout matches among the top finishers of the recently-concluded 10-leg Philippine Golf Tour.
Despite their numerous encounters in stroke play competitions, this marks their first face-off in match play, promising an engaging contest of strategic play.
“Miguel, in match play? Never,” said Que when asked if they had ever faced each other in head-to-head duels.
“I’m excited to play with Angelo tomorrow (today), I haven’t played with him in a while, so it should be good fun,” said Tabuena, who tied for ninth in last Sunday’s Indonesian Masters.
“I’m sure we will a good time on the course.”
Elmer Salvador, meanwhile, continued his impressive run, beating Valley leg runaway winner and third seed Reymon Jaraula, 4&3, after stunning last year’s match play runner-up Keanu Jahns, 4&3, the previous day.
“I’ve been hitting it pretty well — driving, 3-wood, long and short irons,” said Salvador, who had posted a couple of Top 7 seven finishes in his return from a two-year layoff due to illness. “My putting has also been clicking and I just hope to keep it going.”
But the multi-titled Davaoeño shotmaker, who last won in Riviera Classic in 2014, faces a tough challenge against Dutch and reigning back-to-back TCC Invitational winner Guido van der Valk, who repulsed Fidel Concepcion, 2&1. They clash at 7:18 a.m.
Tony Lascuña likewise kept his title-retention drive in the P2 million event put up by ICTSI and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc. going as he trampled Zanieboy Gialon, 4&2, to set up a clash with Marvin Dumandan, who secured victory on the 19th hole for the second consecutive day.
But unlike in his escape over Rico Depilo, the jolly shotmaker needed to fight back from one down after 17 holes, coming through with a solid shot from 200 yards on the tough No. 18 to within two feet for birdie to force a playoff against Joenard Rates.
