It took three playoff holes but Satoshi Kodaira broke into the winner’s circle after fending off Si Woo Kim for the RBC Heritage title.
A birdie at the par-three 17th helped the rising Japan star to claim the win over Kim, who won the Players Championship last year.
Kodaira’s final round 66 was enough to see him finish one shot ahead of Bryson DeChambeau, who matched the eventual winner’s 66 on Sunday after play was brought forward to avoid the inclement weather.
With DeChambeau in the clubhouse at -11 along with Luke List (72), it was Kim who matched Kodaira’s tally at -12 after a 71; his only round in the 70s all week.
Both playoff combatants made pars at the 18th in extra holes and repeated that at the second time of asking before Kodaira’s two saw him claim the plaid jacket and winner’s cheque at Hilton Head, South Carolina.
Tyrone van Aswegen (70) and Rory Sabbatini (74) finished T23 and South Africa’s best for the week with Dylan Frittelli finished one shot behind them after an inward 39 hampered his steady progression on Sunday.
Frittelli, making the most of his time in America, looked set for a strong finish after going out in 33 but stumbled in with +4 39 after a double at the 14th and two bogeys in a row before closing with a par. The late Sunday dip saw the recent Masters debutant drop outside the top 10 into T32.
