MANILA, Philippines — Local favorites Keanu Jahns and Fidel Concepcion emerged as the top Filipino performers after the opening round of the $500,000 Philippine Cup Championship, carding matching one-under-par 71s at the notoriously difficult Wack Wack East course.
The duo sits just three shots behind the early leader, Thailand’s Sarut Vongchaisit, who masterfully navigated the tree-lined layout to post a four-under-par 68.
Local Resilience at Wack Wack Known for its narrow fairways and tricky greens, Wack Wack East yielded only 21 sub-par rounds during the first day of play on Thursday, February 5, 2026.
- Keanu Jahns: Despite admitting to “early round jitters,” Jahns utilized his length to secure three birdies. “This course is a bit tricky, so one- or two-under is pretty good,” the PGT long-hitter remarked.
- Fidel Concepcion: In contrast, Concepcion employed a conservative strategy, using his driver only twice throughout the day. He focused on “laying up to the fattest parts of the fairway” to maintain control on the tight layout.
International Contenders Leader Sarut Vongchaisit fired six birdies in a 35-33 effort to lead the pack. He acknowledged the difficulty of the course, noting the need to “rescue a lot of tee shots” to stay in contention.
- The Chasers: American Charles Porter and two South Korean golfers are currently tied for second after shooting 69s.
- Big Names Struggling: Former Asian Tour Order of Merit champion Jazz Janewattananond struggled with a four-over-par 76, placing him in danger of missing the cut.
Filipinos in the Mix Several other locals remained within striking distance or safely inside the projected cut line:
- Jonel Ababa and Brycen Ko finished with even-par 72s.
- Carl Corpus followed closely with a 73.
- A large group of Filipinos, including Justin Quiban, Mars Pucay, and amateur Rolando Bregente, are currently tied at 75, keeping their hopes alive for the “money rounds” over the weekend.
The second round on Friday will determine the final field as the local contingent aims to capitalize on their familiarity with the iconic course to bridge the gap with the international leaders.