Prayad edges Japanese teen to win Dunlop Phoenix

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MIYAZAKI, Japan (AP) -- Thailand's Prayad Marksaeng held off a late charge by Japanese teenager Ryo Ishikawa on Sunday to win the Dunlop Phoenix tournament.

Prayad shot an even-par 71 to finish at 8-under-276, one stroke ahead of Ishikawa, who fired a 68 at the par-71 Phoenix Country Club.

"Winning this tournament will give me a lot of confidence," said Prayad. "I had some hard luck here and there today but I didn't let it worry me."

The 17-year-old Ishikawa made a six-foot birdie putt on the final hole to pull within one stroke but Prayad made par on 18 to seal his third win on the Japan Tour this year after the Mitsubishi Diamond Cup and Yomiuri Classic.

Prayad had a five-stroke lead over Ishikawa after 10 holes but that was cut to one after a double bogey on the par-3 11th and a bogey on the par-4 12th, coupled with Ishikawa's birdie at 13.

Prayad birdied 16 to open up a two-stroke lead before Ishikakwa's birdie on 17 that featured a 220-yard drive out of a fairway bunker.

"I played really well," said Ishikawa. "It was a good experience for me to play in a field that has some of the world's top players and I hope they remember my name."

Spain's Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano fired a 67 to finish in a tie for third place with Japanese golfers Shigeki Maruyama and Hiroyuki Fujita, who both shot 68.

Defending champion Ian Poulter of Britain finished five strokes off the pace after a final round 69.

The $2.1 million event is one of the richer tournament's on the Japanese men's tour. Recent winners include Tiger Woods (2004 and 2005) and Padraig Harrington (2006).

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