The International Series Philippines is living up to its billing as one of the most exciting golf tournaments ever staged on Philippine soil, with a star-studded field and local heroes igniting hopes for a historic win. After two rounds at the challenging Sta. Elena Golf Club, Thailand’s Sarit Suwannarut has stamped his authority atop the leaderboard, but the chase is heating up—and Filipino talents Miguel Tabuena and Angelo Que are right in the thick of it, thrilling fans who rarely get to see their countrymen go toe-to-toe with some of golf’s global icons.
Suwannarut, a 27-year-old with two Asian Tour victories under his belt, has surged to a commanding 14-under-par after 36 holes, carding rounds of 64 and 66. His recent form—finishes of T9, T11, and 4th in his last three starts—has clearly carried over, as he’s looked calm and clinical in the steamy Philippine heat. But as golf fans know, a four-shot lead is never safe, especially against this caliber of competition.
Hot on his heels, Filipino ace Miguel Tabuena delivered one of the most electrifying moments of the tournament so far. On October 24, Tabuena aced the 177-yard 14th hole with a pure 8-iron, sending the gallery into a frenzy. "I just heard the crowd go wild," Tabuena said, beaming after his second career hole-in-one in competition. "It’s been probably six years since my last one and only second in competition. So, it was nice that it was here in front of friends, family and (on) my home club." That ace, paired with an eagle and a string of birdies, powered him to a sizzling seven-under-par 65 for the day, moving his two-round total to 134—just four shots off the lead and tied with Japan’s Kazuki Higa.
Tabuena’s composure was as impressive as his shot-making. "There’s still a lot of golf (to be played). You know, you can’t get ahead of yourself, you can’t be too complacent," he reflected. "And like I said, there’s two more days to go—(so I will) stick to the game plan, my recovery. It’s getting steamy out there, so take care of the body first." Wise words, especially with the biggest prize purse in Philippine golf history at stake and a world-class field breathing down his neck.
Not to be outdone, veteran Filipino Angelo Que, aged 46, dazzled with eight birdies on his way to a matching 65, bringing his aggregate to 135—just one stroke behind Tabuena and Higa. Que, a three-time Asian Tour winner, was his usual upbeat self after the round. "I didn’t realize how low I went (for the round) until I birdied the 18th," Que said, flashing his trademark grin. "There are still two rounds to go, a lot of golf left to be played." With that, Que joined a logjam of contenders, including major champions and rising Asian stars, all eager to make their move on the weekend.
Justin Quiban, another Filipino in the hunt, carded a solid 68 to stay eight shots off the lead. While that’s a tall order, Quiban’s steady play—and the unpredictable nature of Sta. Elena’s well-manicured but testing layout—means he can’t be counted out just yet. The course, battered by world-class talent and tricky afternoon winds, has proven it can yield low scores but also punish the slightest slip.
Of course, the International Series Philippines isn’t just about local hopes. The event is part of the high-profile LIV Golf-backed series, which adds extra sizzle: the season’s rankings leader earns a coveted full LIV card, and with only three more International Series tournaments left in 2025, every shot counts. The field is stacked with LIV Golf regulars and major champions, including Ryder Cup veterans Dustin Johnson and Patrick Reed, both of whom have drawn plenty of attention from fans and media alike.
Patrick Reed, the former Masters champion, is leading the LIV charge at Sta. Elena. After rounds of 70 and a sparkling 66, Reed sits at eight-under-par—just two behind Que and three back of Tabuena and Higa. Reed’s aggressive play was on full display Friday as he poured in seven birdies, including a stretch of three in a row from the 12th hole. "I just love playing on foreign soil and being the thorn for them (local bets)," Reed said after his round, clearly relishing the role of international spoiler. He’s now in prime position to challenge for his second Asian Tour title this weekend, and with his pedigree, no one would be surprised to see him make a serious run.
Dustin Johnson, meanwhile, finds himself with work to do. The two-time major winner and former World No. 1 started strong with a first-round 67 but stumbled to a 73 on Friday, dropping him to four-under-par overall—ten shots off Suwannarut’s pace. Johnson is making his first International Series appearance of the season, aiming to keep his remarkable 10-year winning streak alive. While he’ll need something special over the next two days, it’s never wise to count out a player of his caliber, especially with his prodigious length and ability to go low when the putter heats up.
Other LIV Golf notables are lurking, ready to pounce. South Africans Dean Burmester and Charl Schwartzel are both at seven-under-par, just a shot behind Reed. Kevin Na, Peter Uihlein, and Marc Leishman are at five-under, still within reach if they can string together a couple of low rounds. In total, 11 LIV players made the cut for the weekend, including reserve Max Rottluff, while seven—including the likes of Anthony Kim and Louis Oosthuizen—missed out.
The tournament’s significance goes beyond individual glory. It’s the richest pro golf event ever staged in the Philippines, and the presence of so many international stars has elevated the profile of the host nation’s players and the sport itself. For a country where basketball and volleyball usually dominate headlines, seeing Filipino golfers taking center stage—and outplaying some of the world’s best—has sparked genuine excitement among fans and inspired a new generation of local talent.
As the International Series Philippines heads into moving day, all eyes are on Suwannarut to see if he can maintain his lead. But with Tabuena, Que, Reed, and a host of others poised for a charge—and with the unpredictable nature of tournament golf—anything can happen. The weekend promises high drama, pressure-packed moments, and, perhaps, a storybook ending for Philippine golf. Stay tuned: this one’s far from over, and the best may be yet to come.
