Cho Wooyoung fires 67 to win Philippine Golf Championship

Korean Cho Wooyoung leaned on composure and calculated aggression to pull away from the field, closing with a five-under-par 67 to claim the Philippine Golf Championship at the rain-hit East Course of Wack Wack Golf and Country Club, Feb. 8.

Entering the final round two shots off the pace, the 24-year-old Korean absorbed an early setback with a bogey on the opening hole, briefly stalling his momentum before settling into a measured recovery.

The win marked Cho’s first Asian Tour title, finishing the $500,000 tournament at 11-under 277 following rounds of 69, 70, 71, and 67. 

He also collected an additional $10,000 bonus for posting the lowest round of the day.

Cho steadied his tempo across the front nine, stringing together timely birdie conversions while avoiding further damage in difficult conditions. 

By the turn, he had erased the deficit and inserted himself firmly into contention.

His strongest stretch came midway through the round, where a sequence of aggressive approach shots translated into birdies that widened the gap and forced the chasing pack into riskier lines.

That cushion proved crucial as pressure mounted on the closing holes, Cho maintained precision off the tee and discipline on the greens, capping his round with a clutch 20-foot birdie on the 18th to seal a four-stroke victory.

Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamoprasert briefly threatened after back-to-back birdies on the 12th cut the deficit to one, but a bogey on the par-3 17th stalled the charge as he settled for solo second at 281.

Australia’s Travis Smyth placed third at 283 after a closing 73, while overnight leader Karandeep Kochhar struggled down the stretch, slipping to fourth with a 77 and a 285 total.

Filipino contender Keanu Jahns, four shots back entering the final round, encountered early inconsistencies but salvaged a tie for ninth at 287 to finish as the tournament’s top local performer.

Cho, a two-time Korean PGA champion and gold medalist at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, walked away with the championship purse after executing under pressure, turning a tentative opening into a controlled finish when it mattered most.