Tabuena wins Hilton Asian Tour Golfer of the Month for December

Sentosa, Singapore, January 7: Philippines’ Miguel Tabuena has been voted as the Hilton Asian Tour Golfer of Month for December, following his exceptional performances on home soil last month.

The talented 21-year-old, who has been knocking on the winner’s doors on several occasions on the Asian Tour, finally got his deserving win at the Philippine Open.

In doing so, Tabuena also became the first Filipino to win his National Open since 2008.

“Winning the Philippine Open was a huge victory for my career last month. And knowing that I’ve won the Hilton Asian Tour Golfer of the Month has given me the motivation to do even better now.

“I’m happy that my hard work has not gone unnoticed by my fans and I’ll continue to work harder in 2016. Without God, none of my success would be possible and I can’t wait to see what he has in store for me in 2016,” said Tabuena.

As part of Hilton Worldwide’s (NYSE: HLT) newest partnership with the region’s premier Tour, the Asian Tour Hilton Golfer of the Month award aims to recognise outstanding efforts of Asian Tour members both at home and abroad.

The online voting contest on www.asiantour.hiltongolf.com to determine the monthly winner, engages golf fans as they vote for their favourite golfer through the Asian Tour’s media channels, culminating with fans voting for the Asian Tour Hilton Golfer of the Year at the end of 2015.

Besides casting their vote for their favourite player on the Asian Tour, fans, who log onto www.asiantour.hiltongolf.com also stand a chance to win a one night stay at any Hilton property of the choice.

Tabuena won the award ahead of Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai and India’s Himmat Rai. The trio were nominated by a selection panel before going into a voting process.

Phachara outshone several of the tournament’s leading lights including Major winners Martin Kaymer and Bubba Watson to finish outright sixth at the Thailand Golf Championship and also earned a place as one of the four qualifiers for next year’s Open Championship.

Rai meanwhile showed his battling spirit when he went on a final day charge to earn himself a place in a four-way play-off at the Ho Tram Open. Although he did not win, the Indian safely secured his Tour card for 2016 and regained his much-needed confidence with his best finish of the season.