WOOYOUNG Cho became a winner on the Asian Tour for the first time on Sunday, beating Pavit Tangkamolprasert of Thailand by four shots in the maiden Philippine Golf Championship presented by Philippine Sports Commission.
The 24-year-old Korean, two behind Karandeep Kochhar at the start of the day, fired a five-under par 67 while playing with Pavit in the second-to-last twosome of the day to win the season opener on an 11-under total at Wack Wack's East course.
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“It feels very amazing,” said Cho, who turned professional after winning an Asian Games team gold medal with now PGA Tour winners Si Woo Kim and Sungjae Im in Hangzhou, China in 2022. “This is my first event in 2026. I started off the season very well and I really enjoyed it."
Cho, whose previous best finish was runner-up at the Bharath Classic last year. earned US$90,000 from the prize fund of $500,000 plus another US$10,000 for carding the lowest round of the day, which Wack Wack sponsored for each round.
Pavit closed with a 70 to finish all alone in second place at 281 while Aussie Travis Smyth finished another two shots behind in third after a 73. Karandeep Kochhar faded all the way to solo fourth at 285 after stumbling to a 77.
On the other hand, Keanu Jahns followed rounds of 71, 71, and 70 with a closing 75 and finished joint ninth at 287 - still the best finish by a Filipino in the tournament. He won $8,650.
Although he was quick off the gate, Cho considered his par saves at No. 11 and 12 as key to his win. The Korean also didn't breathe easy until he rescued par after missing the turtle-back green of the 17th hole right after Pavit made it in one.
“The most important thing in my game today were the saves on 11 and 12. On hole 11 I just wanted to make bogey, just an easy bogey, but I think it was lucky to make par," said Cho, a two-time winner on the Korean pro tour.
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"On hole number 12 I think it was very important to make par as well. That’s why I won this tournament.”
On the par save on 17, he said: “I just wanted to hit the green, but I missed it right. I didn’t care about Pavit’s ball, whether he’s on the green or not, whatever. I just wanted to save a par. That chip to the green was very, very good to make the par.
"So yeah, God bless.”
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