Prayad makes it two in a row

Prayad makes it two in a row

Prayad Marksaeng with the winner's trophy in Japan. JAPAN GOLF ASSOCIATION PR
Prayad Marksaeng with the winner's trophy in Japan. JAPAN GOLF ASSOCIATION PR

In-form Prayad Marksaeng claimed his second straight victory on the Japan Senior Tour, capturing the 26th Japan Senior Open Golf Championship title yesterday.

Sharing a three-shot lead on seven under after three rounds, the 50-year-old Thai posted a final 67 to secure his third title on the tour this season on 12-under 276.

Local player Toru Susuki (70) was second on nine-under 279, while Lu Chien-soon of Taiwan (75) finished third on one-under 287.

Prayad started with birdies on the first two holes and added two more on the seventh and ninth to make the turn on 32. He then finished the bogey-free round with a final-hole birdie.

Prayad, who won the Komatsu Open last week, said: "I played as planned, as slow as possible to keep everything in focus.

"Everything clicked for me especially my putter. If I had putted well in the third round, things would have been easier."

After receiving the winner's cheque of 16 million yen (about 5.5 million baht) at the most lucrative tournament on the 17-event Japan Senior Tour, Prayad moved to the top of the money list with 46,503,000 yen (about 15.9 million baht) to his credit.

Boonchu Ruangkit, seeking his second win the tour since his maiden title in 2013, closed with a 77 to finish tied for 28th on 298 and took home 540,000 yen (about 185,000 baht).

This week, Prayad will play at the Asia-Pacific Golf Championship Diamond Cup Golf in Osaka on the Japan Tour on Sept 22-25. He won the 2008 edition, one of his five titles on Japan Tour.

Thai women finish fifth

Thailand finished fifth at the 27th Women's World Amateur Team Championships (WWATC) at the par-72 Mayakoka El Camaleon Golf Club in Mexico.

The team, targeting a top-three finish, struggled in the final round and settled for a four-under 140 to come in fifth on five-under 571 at the 55-team competition.

Pajaree Anannarukarn and Manuschaya Zeemakorn each carded a 70, while Kanyalak Preedasuttijit posted a 71 in the final round. Only the two best scores in each round were counted.

Overnight leaders South Korea were the runaway winners with 21 strokes, with Switzerland (568) finishing second.

Led by 2015 world junior champion Choi Hye-Jin, South Korea grabbed the title on 29-under 547 for the fourth time.

In the individual event, overnight leader Choi, who made a final 67, went on to win the title on 14-under 274.

Pajaree, who made three birdies against one bogey for a 70, was joint 11th on 286, while Kanyalak was a stroke down further.

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