Song Minhyuk put the finishing touches on a dominant week, capping it with a composed final-round performance as the battle for second place provided the drama, with two young Filipino guns going in contrasting directions over the final nine holes of the 108th Philippine Open.
With the tournament virtually in the bag as early as Saturday afternoon, the Asian Tour rookie went about his business like a seasoned veteran. His even-par 70 gave him a 265 total and a commanding seven-stroke victory, marking the second Tour win of his young and promising career.
While Song stretched his overnight seven-shot lead to as many as nine at one point, the battle for the remaining podium places took center stage, with Sean Ramos holding sole possession of second heading into his final nine holes while playing in the penultimate flight alongside Justin Quiban.
Quiban ultimately emerged as the best Filipino finisher, closing with a 69 to land in a tie for eighth with three others at 273. Ramos, meanwhile, failed to sustain his charge after an impressive outward nine of 30, highlighted by five birdies, as his game unraveled on the back nine.
Despite displaying composure and poise well beyond his years, Song later admitted that he went into panic mode midway through his back nine after recording his first double bogey of the week on the 15th, where he found the pond with his approach shot.
“I wasn’t minding the scores at that point (because I had a big lead), but when I had a bad drive which led to the bad second shot, I was in panic mode,” Song said through an interpreter.
“But now that I have two wins, I will remember 2026 as a very good year,” Song added.
Ramos had moved to 10-under heading into his final nine holes, coming within six strokes of Song, who was playing in the flight behind him. However, his bid unraveled after a double bogey six on the 10th. He eventually signed for a back-nine 41 and a 71, dropping outside the top 15 at 274.
(C) NGAP
“It wasn’t really the goal of mine to be the best Filipino,” Quiban said. “Obviously, the goal is to give myself the best opportunities, the best chances to win.
“But finishing tied for eighth? Had you told me that last week, I’ll accept it,” he went on. “This is what God gave me, and I am happy that God’s given me this opportunity to do what I do.”
Sarit Suwannarut, who began the day in solo second, had a chance to secure the runner-up spot with a seven-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole after shooting a 69. Instead, he settled for an even-par round, missing out on an additional $59,000 in prize money as he wound up in a six-way tie for second. The group included compatriot Rattanon Wanaasrichan, who fired a 66.
Quiban had a similar-length putt in an earlier flight to join the group but missed his attempt to the left.
Jaehyun Jeung, another South Korean who represented Southwoods as an amateur for more than five years, fired a 63 to become the first player to post a 272 at the clubhouse. Another Korean who grew up in the Philippines, Jeunghun Wang, carded a 67 to also join the six-way tie for second.
Former Order of Merit champion Andy Ogletree of the United States fired a 63 to finish in a tie with Quiban and two others, while Carl Corpus carded a 69 to end up tied for 35th at 279. He shared the spot with former Presidents Cup star Anirban Lahiri of India, who shot a 70.
Meanwhile, Pavit Tangkamolprasert, the Thai veteran with 20 years of experience on the Asian Tour, clinched his first Order of Merit title after shooting a 71 for a 281 total. His campaign earned him a full card for the DP World Tour next season.
