Philippine Open R1: Gill, Aman, Lahiri among four Indians at T-38 in Manila
Synopsis
Four Indians including Anirban Lahiri and Asian Tour card-holder Pukhraj Singh Gill sit tied 38th after round one of the Philippine Open in Manila, while New Zealand's Nick Voke dominates with a 5-under 65. The season-ending event will also crown the Asian Tour Order of Merit champion, with leader Pavit Tangkamolprasert in a strong position after a solid 68.
Key Takeaways
Pukhraj Singh Gill , Aman Raj , Shaurya Bhattacharya , and Anirban Lahiri are tied 38th after carding 1-over 71 in Round 1 of the Philippine Open in Manila .
Rashid Khan and Ajeetesh Sandhu shot 3-over 73 each to sit at T-69 , while SSP Chawrasia carded 6-over 76 to lie at T-107 .
New Zealand's Nick Voke leads at 5-under 65 on the Jack Nicklaus-designed Masters Course at Manila Southwoods .
Pukhraj Singh Gill has already secured his Asian Tour card for 2027 by finishing in the top 10 of the Asian Development Tour Order of Merit.
Order of Merit leader Pavit Tangkamolprasert (Thailand) lies in tied eighth after a 68 ; rivals Travis Smyth and Jazz Janewattananond shot 73 and 74 and face an uphill task.
Four of the seven Indians competing at the Philippine Open presented by the Philippine Sports Commission carded a 1-over 71 on 12 November 2026 to finish tied 38th after the opening round at the Masters Course at Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club. The quartet comprised Pukhraj Singh Gill, Aman Raj, Shaurya Bhattacharya, and Anirban Lahiri.
India's Round-One Scorecards
Pukhraj Singh Gill, winner of the IGPL Order of Merit in 2025 and already confirmed for the Asian Tour card for 2027 after finishing in the top 10 of the Asian Development Tour Order of Merit, delivered the most eventful card among the group — posting five birdies alongside two bogeys and two double bogeys.
Anirban Lahiri was steady if unspectacular, recording two birdies against three bogeys, while Aman Raj had three birdies but dropped shots on four holes. Shaurya Bhattacharya managed just one birdie against two bogeys. The remaining three Indians fared worse: Rashid Khan and Ajeetesh Sandhu each shot 3-over 73 to sit at tied 69th, while SSP Chawrasia endured a difficult day with a 6-over 76, placing him at tied 107th.
Voke Sets the Pace at the Top
New Zealand's Nick Voke seized the first-round lead with a commanding 5-under 65 on the Jack Nicklaus-designed layout. Thailand's Nopparat Panichphol sits alone in second after a 66, while a five-man group is tied third at 67 — including Tawit Polthai and Sarut Vongchaisit of Thailand, Americans Kevin Na and Andy Ogletree, and Jeongwoo Ham of Korea.
Order of Merit Title Race Heats Up
The Philippine Open doubles as the season-ending event on the Asian Tour and will determine the 2026 Order of Merit champion. Merit list leader Pavit Tangkamolprasert of Thailand steadied his title bid with a 68 to lie in tied eighth, giving himself a healthy buffer.
His closest rivals, Australian Travis Smyth and Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand, shot rounds of 73 and 74 respectively, leaving them with a mountain to climb. Smyth reportedly needs to finish inside the top two, while Jazz requires nothing short of a victory — and even then, only if Pavit slips significantly down the leaderboard.
What's Next
With three rounds remaining on the demanding Manila course, the Indian contingent — particularly Gill and Lahiri — will need to find several shots to push into contention. The Order of Merit battle, however, looks increasingly like Pavit Tangkamolprasert's to lose, barring an extraordinary weekend from his pursuers.
Point of View
But two double bogeys signal the round-wreckers that separate leaderboard contenders from the pack. For Anirban Lahiri, a veteran presence on this circuit, a 1-over round amounts to a holding position rather than a launch pad. The more intriguing subplot is the Order of Merit battle: Pavit's comfortable 68 versus his rivals' 73 and 74 means the Thai star is now firmly in the driver's seat heading into the weekend.
NationPress
12 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did the Indian golfers perform in Round 1 of the Philippine Open 2026?
Four Indians — Pukhraj Singh Gill, Aman Raj, Shaurya Bhattacharya, and Anirban Lahiri — carded 1-over 71 to sit tied 38th after the first round. Rashid Khan and Ajeetesh Sandhu shot 3-over 73 each (T-69), while SSP Chawrasia had a tough day with 6-over 76 (T-107).
Who leads the Philippine Open after Round 1?
New Zealand's Nick Voke leads after firing a 5-under 65 on the Jack Nicklaus-designed Masters Course at Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club. Thailand's Nopparat Panichphol is second at 66, with five players tied third at 67.
What is at stake in the Philippine Open 2026?
The Philippine Open is the season-ending event on the Asian Tour and will determine the 2026 Order of Merit champion. Merit list leader Pavit Tangkamolprasert of Thailand currently leads the standings and lies tied eighth after a first-round 68.
What is Pukhraj Singh Gill's significance in this tournament?
Pukhraj Singh Gill, who won the IGPL Order of Merit in 2025, has already secured his Asian Tour card for 2027 by finishing in the top 10 of the Asian Development Tour Order of Merit. He carded five birdies in Round 1 but was undone by two double bogeys, finishing with a 1-over 71.
What do Travis Smyth and Jazz Janewattananond need to win the Asian Tour Order of Merit?
Travis Smyth reportedly needs to finish inside the top two, while Jazz Janewattananond needs to win the tournament outright — and even then, only if Order of Merit leader Pavit Tangkamolprasert finishes well down the leaderboard. Both rivals struggled in Round 1, shooting 73 and 74 respectively.
