HALIFAX, Canada (Kyodo) — Japan’s Shun Sato finished second at Skate Canada International on Sunday as American Ilia Malinin claimed back-to-back victories in the men’s category in the first two ISU Grand Prix series events of the season .

Second after Saturday’s short program, Sato scored 261.16 total points in Halifax after settling for a fourth-best score of 164.64 in the free skate. World champion Malinin, who won Skate America a week ago, scored 195.60 on the day and totaled 301.82 to finish first in both segments.

The 19-year-old has clinched his place in the Grand Prix Final in early December in Grenoble, France, where he will attempt to defend the title he won last season.

Cha Jun Hwan of South Korea was third at 260.31, while last season’s champion Sota Yamamoto of Japan was fourth at 257.00 after finishing third in each segment.

Sato, hampered by a plethora of errors, including a fall with his opening quadruple lutz, will look to punch his ticket to the Grand Prix Final in late November at the Cup of China, the sixth and final event of the series.

“I was able to start the season with a second place. I’m a little relieved,” said Sato after his sixth consecutive podium on the circuit.

“I will try to adjust the things that didn’t go well this time and perform flawlessly in the short program and free skate (in Chongqing).”