Honolulu's Tadd Fujikawa cut down his bogeys and moved up the scoreboard yesterday, firing a final-round 2-under-par 70 to finish tied for 31st at the Puerto Rico Open at Trump International Golf Club in Rio Grande.

Third-round co-leader Michael Bradley also shot 70 to win by a shot over Brett Quigley (67) and Jason Day (71). Bradley's winning score was 14-under 274, while Fujikawa finished at 283, to win $19,850.

The Moanalua High School senior has cashed a check in all three of his PGA Tour starts this year, collecting $61,892. His next confirmed event is The Crowns, next month on the Japan tour.

"For it being my first two PGA Tour events in a while on a sponsor's exemption, on a scale of 1 to 5 I was maybe a 3 1/2," Fujikawa said of the last two weeks. "At least I made the cut, which is nice. At least I put myself in contention this week after two days.

"It's a learning experience. It's like me going to college right now. I'm really learning how I can stay focused and in a tournament. I really enjoy being out here first of all. I'm learning so much and improving, which is really nice to see."

Fujikawa was just four shots out of first at the halfway point in Puerto Rico, but putting woes the final two days — he had 32 putts Saturday and 31 yesterday — kept him from closing.

"I hit it well (Saturday) and just putted terrible," Fujikawa said of his round of 75. "I missed two putts from three feet and in. It was not a very good day for putting. You're going to have days like that. You learn from your mistakes.

"What I'm trying to do now is learn from the mistakes I make and be able to control that the next time I go out. Hopefully, I'll improve and do better. It's tough out here when you're trying to make a living and still learning, but that's what I have to do."

The 18-year-old did make progress in another area of concern yesterday: He led the field with 11 bogeys after three rounds, but had just one in the final round. Fujikawa said he worked on his tempo after Friday's round, when he found his rhythm quickening in strong wind.

He played with Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin Saturday and Rocco Mediate yesterday. Both are some 30 years older and while Pavin is quiet and analytical, Mediate never shuts up. Fujikawa loved it.

"He is one of the greatest people you'll ever meet," Fujikawa said. "He talks a lot, but it's good talk, not irritating. I had a lot of fun. He was a true, true champion. He didn't play well (77), but he was still supporting me. It was a lot of fun."

Fujikawa spent much of the week with Puerto Rican hero Chi Chi Rodriguez, still a member of the Champions Tour at 73. They did a clinic together and Rodriguez and wife Iwalani (from Hawai'i), followed Fujikawa every day.

"If you want to see someone who knows everybody and everybody knows him, it's him," Fujikawa said. "It's unbelievable."