Jahns, Ko remain in contention in crowded Philippine Golf Championship

Keanu Jahns

Pilipinas Golf

MANILA, Philippines — Keanu Jahns failed to sustain a surprising strong start in the afternoon wave but scrambled to salvage a second straight 71, enough to keep him in contention halfway through the crowded Philippine Golf Championship at Wack Wack’s East course Friday.

First-round solo leader Sarut Vongchaisit of Thailand shook off a wavering start and rallied with a string of birdies on the back nine to likewise save a one-under card. But three others surged into a share of the lead at 139, setting the stage for a wild, woolly weekend chase in the $500,000 championship that ushers in this year’s Asian Tour season.

Australian Travis Smyth rode an eagle on the par-5 15th to fire a 69, while Koreans Jeunghun Wang and Wooyoung Cho matched 70s to forge a four-way tie at the top.

Ian Snyman of South Africa and American Marcus Plunkett posted identical 140s after rounds of 68 and 70, respectively, while Hong Kong’s Shunyat Han and Taiwan’s Hung Chien-yao carded matching 141s after 70 and 71.

With the leaderboard tightly packed, the title chase is shaping up to be anybody’s race on a risk-and-reward course capable of fueling – or derailing – a title bid in an instant.

Jahns, who settled for a 71 despite an early start in Round 1, came out firing in the late wave, birdieing Nos. 3 and 5 to crack the Top 5. But as the pressure mounted, he wavered, dropping shots on Nos. 6 and 10.

He, however, steadied himself down the stretch, closing with two birdies against a bogey over the final five holes to rescue another one-under card.

He shared ninth place, just three shots off the lead, with Thailand’s Suteepat Prateeptienchai, who sizzled with a 68; Germany’s Marc Hammer, who carded a 70; and Filipino-Canadian Brycen Ko.

Winner of the 2025 PGA of BC Championship, Ko backed up his opening 72 with a gritty 70 built on three birdies and a lone bogey, underscoring his readiness to challenge the region’s established stars on local soil.

After hitting 12 fairways en route to three birdies and three bogeys in the opening round, Ko struggled off the tee on Friday, finding just seven fairways. He leaned on crisp iron and wedge play, however, hitting 15 greens in regulation and finishing with 30 putts, including two key saves.

Fidel Concepcion also stayed in the hunt despite a 73, slipping to joint 18th at 144 but remaining within striking distance, along with Carl Corpus, who continued to show promise with a roller-coaster 71 highlighted by six birdies against three bogeys and a double bogey.

Other local aces slipped down the leaderboard. Jhonnel Ababa stumbled with a 74 to fall to joint 42nd at 146 with Rupert Zaragosa, who rebounded with a 71, as only seven Filipinos advanced to weekend play.

Enrique Dimayuga battled back with a 72 after a 76 as he pooled a 148, the cutoff score, joining eight others at 65th spot.

Missing the cut were Clyde Mondilla (72-149), Angelo Que (72-149), amateur Rolando Bregente (75-149), Zanieboy Gialon (74-150), Mars Pucay (76-150), Tony Lascuña (75-151), Justin Delos Santos (77-152), Gab Manotoc (75-152), Justin Quiban (78-152), James Lam (75-152) and Aidric Chan (77-152), among others. (Pool story)