Sunday, November 23, 2008 - 10:00
AFP News Briefs ListThailand's Prayad wins Dunlop Phoenix title
Overnight leader Prayad Marksaeng of Thailand shot an even-par 71 to seal the Dunlop Phoenix title, finishing one shot clear of Japan's teenage sensation Ryo Ishikawa.
Starting the day with a two-stroke lead, Prayad hit a double bogey on the 11th hole at the Phoneix Country Club, but he also sunk five birdies to finish the tournament with a four-round total of eight-under-par 276.
Seventeen-year-old Ishikawa finished in the runners-up spot on 277, followed by Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano of Spain, Japan's Shigeki Maruyama and Hiroyuki Fujita, all on 278.
"After I came back from the HSBC Champions and Singapore Open, I felt very tired and at first I was thinking of making the cut," Prayad said.
"I didn't think about winning but the first day I played well and after the third round I was confident."
It is Prayad's third title on the Japan Tour, following victories at the Diamond Cup in May and the Mizuno Open in June, and he picked up the winner's cheque of 40 million yen (400,000 dollars).
"I've improved my game here in Japan. At the ABC tournament I started putting cross-handed and my putting has been getting better and that's made my performance better," said the Thai star.
"The Japan Tour is like home. I really relax when I come to Japan and the quality of the courses has helped my game," he added.
Defending champion Ian Poulter of England hit a 69 to share eighth place with American Brandt Snedeker and four other Japanese golfers, while pre-tournament favourite Ernie Els of South Africa finished in a tie for 15th place with a score of 283.
Images
Prayad Marksaeng of Thailand holds the trophy during the awarding ceremony of the Dunlop Phoenix golf tournament in Miyazaki, 850km southwest of Tokyo, on November 23.
© 2007 AFP
