CARMONA, Cavite – Julien Sale of France seized control of the Smart Infinity Philippine Open with an electrifying performance, firing a three-birdie streak on the back nine and cruising to a final round of five-under-par 65.
That gave him a one-shot victory at the Masters course of Manila Southwoods on Sunday, securing the $500,000 (approximately P29 million) prize and his first Asian Tour victory.
The 27-year-old, who earned his spot on tour through qualifying school in Thailand late last year, came through with a 269 total, edging out Japan’s Tomoyo Ikemura and Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana.
Both players had opportunities to force a playoff, with Ikemura and Kaewkanjana both aiming for eagles on the par-5 18th, but only managing birdies in the end.
Ikemura, who started the day with a slender one-shot lead, closed with a bogey-free round of 68 but fell just short.
Kaewkanjana, the leader after the first two rounds, posted a 67, yet his early birdies on holes 3 and 4 were offset by a couple of costly mistakes, including a dropped shot on the tricky par-4 sixth. Despite a fierce rally, it wasn’t enough to catch Sale.
Miguel Tabuena, the best-placed Filipino, was locked in a dogfight throughout the round. He finished strong with a 66 but came up just four shots behind the winner.
“I’m really happy with how I played this week,” Tabuena said. “I’m excited for the rest of the year. This is a good start, and I’m looking forward to India next week.”
Sale, reflecting on the significance of his breakthrough win, noted how it has opened up new opportunities for him. “This win is a game-changer for my career,” said Sale, who hails from Reunion Island, located just off the coast of Mauritius.
“Now I can play the events I want to play, starting with the lucrative International Series in India next week.”
Ikemura, who led going into Sunday’s final round, couldn’t find the birdies he needed to stay ahead.
Though his performance was steady, the Frenchman’s early charge and consistent play put Sale in a commanding position by the closing holes. Kaewkanjana, a two-time winner on the Asian Tour, made a valiant push but couldn’t recover from his mid-round mistakes.
Tabuena, despite a tough start, emerged as the best Filipino finisher in the top 10, showing the resilience and skill he’ll need as he heads into the next phase of his season.
“This tournament is a great building block for the year ahead,” he said, his optimism palpable as he looked forward to the upcoming $2 million event in India.
Aidric Chan also put together an impressive round, shooting 66 to finish a shot behind Tabuena, while Justin Quiban struggled with a few misfortunes during his round, carding a 70 and settling outside the top 10, seven shots behind the winner.
In the amateur ranks, Filipino-Japanese Shinichi Suzuki—who was part of the victorious Philippine Putra Cup team—claimed the low amateur honors, finishing with a solid 286 total after a final-round 72.
It was a week of incredible golf, as Sale’s win not only earned him a first taste of Asian Tour glory, but it also opened new doors, setting the stage for what promises to be a stellar career ahead.
