Overnight leader Prayad Marksaeng of Thailand shot an even-par 71 to seal the Dunlop Phoenix title yesterday, 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.
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 check of ¥40 million (US$420,000).
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 favorite Ernie Els of South Africa finished in a tie for 15th place with a score of 283.
■ VIETNAM MASTERS
AFP, HANOI
Thailand’s Wisut Artjanawat won the Mercedes-Benz Masters Vietnam yesterday after a storming six-under-par back nine featuring back-to-back eagles.
The 27-year-old, who carded a course record-equalling seven-under-par 65, beat compatriot Pavit Tangkamolprasert by one stroke at Hanoi’s Van Tri Golf Club.
Thailand’s Kwanchai Tannin and Pravee Visalkit, who started the day sharing the lead, finished third and fourth respectively in the US$50,000 tournament.
Wisut, who also won the Mercedes-Benz Masters Philippines in May, teed off five shots behind the leaders and even at the turn he did not feature on the leaderboard.
However, he catapulted himself into first place with eagles on 10 and 11 and birdies on 13 and 15.
He heads home to compete in this week’s Mercedes-Benz Masters Thailand, the final event of the season on the Mercedes-Benz Tour.
■ ADT CHAMPIONSHIP
AFP, WEST PALM BEACH, Florida
Suzann Pettersen topped the leaderboard heading into the final round of the season-ending USLPGA’s ADT Championship.
Pettersen led the way as eight players qualified for yesterday’s final round of the event that features a first prize of US$1 million. Scores will be reset and yesterday was expected to be a mad dash for the big prize.
Pettersen fired a four-under-par 68 despite a triple-bogey on the par-four fourth hole.
She carded seven of her eight birdies after the miscue at the fourth and wrapped up a spot in yesterday’s final round with four straight birdies starting at No. 13.
Looking for her first win of the season, Pettersen had just two birdies in her first two rounds combined at Trump International Golf Club.
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