Kenichi Kuboya birdied the second extra hole Sunday to beat Shingo Katayama in a playoff and win the Japan PGA Championship for his first major title on the domestic tour.
Kuboya sealed his third career win with a tap-in birdie that followed a superb shot from a greenside bunker, minutes after Katayama missed an 8-footer to settle for par on the par-5 17th hole at KOMA Country Club in Nara Prefecture.
Starting the day three strokes off the pace, Kuboya shot a blemish-free 67 with five birdies while 2000 money title winner Katayama had the day's lowest round of 66 as they finished the regulation 72 holes at 9-under-par 279.
Masashi "Jumbo" Ozaki ended the week at 8-under 280 after a 69 and came up short in his bid to end a two-year victory drought. Overnight co-leader Hur Suk Ho of South Korea joined Ozaki in a tie for third after a 71.