The stocky 29-year-old fired seven birdies in an error-free card of 65 on the closing day of the $750,000 tournament at the Delhi Golf Club to topple the overnight leader Khan who came into the day sitting on a three-shot lead over his closest challenger Chikkarangappa S. of Bangalore.

At the end, a closing par on the 18th hole was good enough to give the young Filipino a one-shot win on 12-under par 276 (68-71-72-65), while Khan returned an 11-under total of 277 (67-70-68-72).

Tabuena got stronger as the day went on, playing what at times seemed to be nerveless golf. Playing in the group ahead of Khan, Chikkarangappa (280) and Honey Baisoya (282), he had three birdies to make eth turn on three-under 33 and then picked up a further four shots on his way home.

“Nerveless was the last thing I was out there today,” he said at the post-victory media interaction. "The DGC is one of the toughest courses we get to play on the Asian Tour. I’ve played it many times before nad it is still a test every time Plus Rashid is the kind of player you can never relax about. I know him very well, he is hard to stop so overall, I’m very glad with this result.”

“I gave it my best shot,” Rashid, said later. “There was nothing more I could have done today. Finishing second is not that bad a result and I’m quite happy to take that away from here. I have had a problem with my swing which I'm working on and I played this week only on my putter. And I just didn't hole my putts today, that's it.”

Thailand veteran Chapchai Nirat took sole third place on 10-under par 278 (68-71-71-68). Two-time Indian Open winner Shiv Shankar Prasad Chawrasia was fourth on seven-under 281 (72-70-71-68) finishing with a four-under bogey-free round that matched Tabuena’s feat of keeping the round error-free.

“My game is coming back with second top 10 after Qatar this year but still has some way to go,” Chapchai said. “I have only just come back after two years off from the game where I was coaching my team of youngsters. Then I come back last year and definitely I need more practice. I need to come back stronger."

“But I’m really, really happy. I have been working with my coach and some results are starting to come but still long way to go. Today I just wanted to keep it on the fairway and reach the greens and mostly I did that. Only missed fairway on 14 but I came back well. Greens also were very firm, much more than last year but I have to say very good course, very happy overall.”

Making it a good day for the hosts overall, Gaganjeet Bhullar, Om Prakash Chouhan and Honey Baisoya all tied for sixth place on six-under 282 along with Thailand’s Suteepat Prateeptienchai.