Prayad defends his Japan crown in style

Prayad Marksaeng successfully defended his crown in the 19th Starts Senior Golf Tournament at the Starts Kasama Golf Course, Ibaraki, yesterday for his 10th Japan Senior Tour title.

The 52-year-old Thai, who held a oneshot lead after two rounds, closed with a two-under-70 to win by two shots on 13-under 203.

It was his second Japan Senior Tour this year after clinching the Fubon Yeangder Senior Cup in Taiwan last month.

Last Saturday, Prayad finished tied 11th at the Sumaiida Cup Senior Tournament at Eastwood Country Club in Tochigi.

Prayad took home the ¥14 million (approximately 4.1 million baht) winner’s cheque from the ¥60 million (17.6 million baht) 54-hole tournament.

Local hope Katsumi Kobo (71) was second on 11 under, one shot ahead of compatriot Masahiro Kuramoto (70).

Another Thai veteran Thaworn Wiratchant posted a final 73 to finish tied 27th at one over.

Prayad, who hails from Hua Hin, is now on top of the tour’s money list with ¥22,125,000 (6.5 million baht) after playing just three events so far this year.

Japan’s Masayoshi Yamazoe, who won in Tochigi last Saturday, is a distant second with a winning total of ¥15,782,500 (four events) and American Gregory Meyer is third with ¥12,594,968 (five events). Thaworn is seventh with ¥6,211,750 (five events).