Sarut Vongchaisit of Thailand seized the first-round lead of the Philippine Golf Championship on Thursday, February 5, after firing a four-under-par 68 at Wack Wack Golf & Country Club’s East Course in Manila. The round came in hot and windy conditions during the season-opening event on the Asian Tour presented by the Philippine Sports Commission.

The 26-year-old built a one-shot advantage over American Charles Porter and Koreans Jeunghun Wang and Wooyoung Cho, all of whom carded three-under 69s. Sarut’s morning effort set the pace for the field, with the score proving unreachable for the afternoon wave.

A group of players followed at two under par, including Wang Wei-hsuan and Hung Chien-yao of Chinese Taipei, Australians Travis Smyth and Kevin Yuan, and American Marcus Plunkett. The tightly packed leaderboard reflected the difficulty of the East Course, which demanded precision and patience from the outset.

Sarut’s strong start continued the momentum he generated late last season, when he finished 64th on the Asian Tour Order of Merit to narrowly retain his playing privileges. Earlier in the year, he claimed his maiden professional victory at the Nam A Bank Vietnam Masters on the Asian Development Tour.

Despite taking a two-week break during the offseason, Sarut showed no signs of rust. Starting from the 10th hole, he collected six birdies against two bogeys while keeping mistakes to a minimum on one of the Tour’s tightest layouts.

Discipline defines the early edge

Sarut credited his preparation and course management for navigating Wack Wack’s narrow fairways and swirling winds. He frequently opted for rescue clubs off the tee, prioritizing accuracy and position over raw distance.

That conservative approach allowed him to stay in play and avoid the big numbers that derailed others. His all-around performance remained steady throughout the round, giving him consistent scoring chances without unnecessary risk.

Two top-10 finishes last year at the SJM Macao Open and Mandiri Indonesia Open had already hinted at Sarut’s upward trend. His opening round in Manila reinforced that progress while placing him in prime position early in the tournament.

The strong start also carried immediate financial reward, as the championship is offering US$10,000 to the lowest scorer of each round. Sarut secured that bonus outright with his opening-day effort.

Chasers stay within reach

Porter continued his solid form after finishing 29th on last season’s Order of Merit, which included a runner-up finish at the Yeangder TPC and a strong showing at the Saudi Open. The 6-foot-9 American credited patience and familiarity gained from practice rounds with a club member for his composed performance.

Attention also centered on Wack Wack’s demanding par threes, particularly the iconic 17th hole. The 191-yard test, guarded by bunkers and a camelback green, yielded only 14 birdies from a starting field of 142 players.

High-value hole-in-one prizes add intrigue to the event, with a BMW i5 eDrive40 Hybrid on offer at the seventh hole. An ace on the 17th would earn an all-electric BMW i5, a fitting reward for conquering one of the toughest holes on the Asian Tour.

As the tournament heads into the second round, Sarut’s blend of discipline and confidence has set the benchmark. On a course that punishes impatience, his measured approach has given him the early advantage.