South Korea’s Wooyoung Cho claimed his first Asian Tour victory on Sunday, closing with a five-under-par 67 to win the 2026 Philippine Golf Championship presented by the Philippine Sports Commission by four shots at the East Course of Wack Wack Golf and Country Club in Mandaluyong City.
Cho finished with a four-round total of 11-under 277 in the season-opening $500,000 tournament, which was jointly sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the National Golf Association of the Philippines.
The 24-year-old, who turned professional in 2024, sealed the victory with a clutch 20-foot putt late in the round, celebrating briefly as he secured his first international title outside South Korea.
“This is my first event win, not in South Korea and my first international win, so it means a lot to me,” said Cho, a two-time winner on the Korean professional tour. “The most difficult part today was the mental side. I just tried to focus on the next shot and keep improving.”
Cho earned the championship trophy and the $90,000 winner’s purse. He also received an additional $10,000 special prize from host club Wack Wack Golf and Country Club, chaired by Benjamin Abalos Sr., awarded to the player who posted the lowest score of the final round. His closing 67 was his best round of the week after earlier scores of 69, 70, and 71.
Entering the final round, Cho was part of a four-way tie for second at four-under alongside Australia’s Travis Smyth, Thailand’s Sarut Vongchaisit, and South Africa’s Ian Snyman, all two shots behind overnight leader Karandeep Kochhar of India.
Kochhar’s challenge unraveled early after he opened with a double bogey on the first hole of the BingoPlus- and MVP Sports Foundation-backed event, allowing the chasing group to close the gap.
Cho also stumbled with an opening-hole bogey but quickly recovered with birdies on the second and third holes. He added birdies on the ninth, 10th and 14th to take control of the tournament.
“The bogey hurt mentally, but I tried to get better,” Cho said, crediting his caddie, Malaysia’s Adahlil Indiran, for steadying him during the round. The pair have worked together for a second straight season on the Asian Tour.
Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert finished second at seven-under 281 after a final-round 70, while Smyth placed third at 283. Kochhar settled for fourth at 285.
Filipino Keanu Jahns was the best-placed local player, finishing at 287 to tie for ninth through 14th, earning $8,650.
