Sunday September 06, 2009, 08:25 AM

Japanese teenage golf sensation Ryo Ishikawa on Sunday won the Fujisankei Classic and returned to the top of the 2009 Japanese prize money list.

The 17-year-old high school student, who led from the second day, shot a one-under 70 on Sunday for a 12-under total of 272, claiming his third victory of the season.

Daisuke Maruyama finished second with 277, followed by Komei Oda with 278.

Ishikawa walks away with a cash prize of 22 million yen (236,000 dollars), bringing his prize money total for the year to 93 million yen.

"It feels strange because I didn't think I would be able to become the prize money champion," he said after receiving the white winner's jacket.

"I still have more than 10 tournaments this season. I am sure the ranking will change constantly.

"I will... fight on through the remaining season. I hope that I will be able to grow in the process," he said.

Ishikawa has revived the Japanese men's game after becoming the youngest winner of any event on the world's six major tours in 2007 when he shot to victory in the domestic KSB Cup as an amateur, aged just 15.

He finished fifth in last year's Japan Tour money rankings in his rookie season as a pro and made his US PGA debut this year.

He was the youngest competitor in US PGA Championship history at Chaska, Minnesota this season and made the cut for the first time in his three major outings.

© 2009 AFP/sid