SHARP-SHOOTING Miguel Tabuena produced a splendid back nine performance to card a final-round 66, beating American Johannes Veerman for his second Asian Tour win in the US$500,000 Queen’s Cup presented by the Thongchai Jaidee Foundation yesterday.

The 24-year-old from Manila, who was fifth in the previous edition four months ago in Chon Buri, recovered from an opening bogey to generate five birdies, four on the last six holes, to end at 20-under 260 at the par-70 Legacy Golf Club on the outskirts of Bangkok.

Tabuena also ended a three-year title drought stretching back to his maiden triumph on home soil at the Philippine Open in 2015.

“I did not get off to a good start, bogeying the first hole. It took a lot of digging and scrambling, because the guys were relentless all day,” said the Filipino, who recovered from last week in Hong Kong where he missed the cut.

“On this course you need to keep making birdies because they [rivals] will eventually catch up. I wasn’t happy when I made the turn at even-par. But I am happy with how I came back strong on the back nine with four birdies,” said Tabuena, who returns to Manila US$90,000 richer and sporting a Bt500,000 Carl E Bucherer watch on his wrist.

“I didn’t expect it to take this long [to win a second title]. I am really grateful for being able to finally get the job done. I have worked so hard over the past few weeks with my coach and, when I missed the cut last week, I told myself to trust the process and it will eventually be worth it.”

Veerman, 26, also shot a 66 but without an error to finish lone second on 17-under 263. He was once again forced to wait for his first Tour title after also finishing second last year in the Yeander Tournament Players Championship in Taiwan.

“ I played really solid all week. I left a lot of putts short today, so that’s going to come back to haunt me. But I have so many positives to take away from this week. Hats off to Miguel [Tabuena]. He played really well this week,” said the American-Indonesian, winner of the Asian Development Tour Order of Merit in 2016. He earned US$55,000 as runner-up.

Defending champion Jazz Janewattananond started the round two shots behind Tabuena but fought valiantly to be breathing down his neck with after straight birdies on holes 11-13. But the two-time Tour winner was unable to match the putting accuracy of his rival on the final holes.

“I was a bit under pressure but I have to deal with it better in the future. This is only my second event after I adjusted my swing last month, and I didn’t know what was going to happen coming here from Hong Kong where I missed the cut,” said the 23-year-old young gun.

In lone fourth was Natipong Srithong, who closed out with an even-par round for a total 267. Countryman Chapchai Nirat shot the day’s lowest score with a 65 and followed one stroke behind on 268.

Former Thai No 1 Thongchai will host his next event, an ADT tournament, at his hometown in Lopburi from February 14-17.