Thai veteran Prayad Marksaeng successfully defended the Maruhancup Taiheiyo Club Senior title with a slim one-shot victory in Hyogo, Japan, yesterday.
Seeking his second Japan Senior Tour title of the year after the FANCL Classic last month, Prayad carded a bogey-free six-under-par 66 to win by one shot on 10-under 134 at the two-day tournament. It is the third time Prayad has won the tournament since his first victory in 2016.
Hidejun Shiragat was second on nine-under-135, while Katsunori Kuwahara was third two shots down further at the par-72 Taiheiyo Club Rokko course.
Trailing the overnight leader Nobuo Serizawa by a shot, Prayad made three birdies on each trip, including the 17th hole.
"Before the start of the final round, I thought I had a chance to win because Nobuo Serizawa [the overnight leader] is not a big-hitter," said the Hua Hin native, who started the round with birdies on the first two holes.
"However, runner-up Shiragat played really well today. I have never seen such a good run. Luckily, I won again."
One-time Japan Senior Tour winner Thaworn Wiratchant was tied 10th on four-under 140. Serizawa finished tied 16th on two under following his 74.
Prayad received ¥10 million (about 2.9 million baht) for his 15th victory on the Japan Senior Tour and boosted his total earnings to ¥32,664,478 (about 9.4 million baht) after seven events.
Masahiro Kuramoto is second on the money list with ¥20,339,486, while Thaworn is 15th with ¥6,925,700 (about two million baht) after seven events.
Prayad and Thaworn will play at the Komatsu Open 2019 on Sept 12-14 at Komatsu Country Club in Ishikawa. After that, Prayad will defend his title at the 29th Japan Senior Open Golf Championship in Saitama on Sept 19-22.
"I have not thought of winning the money list yet. I am just trying to play as best as I can," Prayad said.