Shin holds off Tabuena for second TCC win
STA. ROSA, Laguna—Micah Shin closed out with two scrambling pars on Friday and posted a virtual repeat of a classic 2018 triumph over Miguel Tabuena to win the rich The Country Club Invitational title for the second time.
“It feels different, obviously,” Shin said after submitting a four-over-par 76 to win over Tabuena by just a shot—just like eight years ago. “But it felt like déjà vu.”
Shin, after missing the 18th green and needing to hole a driver-length putt to save par, watched as Tabuena’s birdie putt on the 72nd hole to forge a playoff refused to drop, and the Korean American’s 290 total held sway over a layout that bedeviled the lean, talented field in the last three days—with no player cracking par in the last two rounds.
“I feel thankful to be a two-time winner,” said Shin, an Asian Tour veteran who will play in the $500,000 PH President’s Cup at Wack Wack East next week. “This is one of the biggest tournaments in the Philippines and I’m happy to be back.
“This is a warm-up for next week,” he added. “Definitely a confidence-booster.”
Tabuena fired a third straight 73 and was denied a second win here, with Dutchman Guido van der Valk shooting a 73 to finish third four shots behind the champion.
South Korea’s Jae Hyun-jung carved out his version of a 73 and caught Clyde Mondilla at fourth spot with a 295 total. Mondilla fired a 75.
After rounds of 71, 71 and 72, Shin bagged the P2.2 million champion’s prize from the P6.5 million pot, nearly doubling his earnings from his breakthrough win eight years ago.
Meanwhile, Tabuena will not be at Wack Wack after he was recently contacted by LIV Golf to be a reserve player for select events during the 2026 season. He flies to Saudi Arabia next week.
“It’s fine,” said Tabuena after coming up short. “I gave myself the best chance. Micah had a great up-and-down on the last hole, and I couldn’t do anything about that.
“My game is trending in the right direction and hopefully I get to play in Saudi next week,” he added.
