Japan-Australasia Championship: Travis Smyth triumphs in six-hole playoff at Royal Auckland and Grange Golf Club

Travis Smyth wins the ISPS Handa Japan-Australasia Championship. Photo / Getty Images

As the sun set over Royal Auckland and Grange Golf Club on Sunday evening, Travis Smyth etched his name into the history books.

It took 78 holes, but the Australian triumphed to be crowned the inaugural ISPS Handa Japan-Australasia Championship, becoming the first golfer to win a tournament co-sanctioned by the Japan Golf Tour and the PGA Tour of Australasia.

The 31-year-old outlasted compatriot Jack Thompson in a playoff, with six extra holes needed to separate the two players who finished their four rounds 15-under-par.

Smyth went into the day in a tie for fourth and three shots off the lead, but his third-straight round of five-under-par golf saw him jump to the top of the leaderboard alongside Thompson, who carded an eight-under 64 in his final round to jump from a tie for 19th into the lead.

In the playoff, the pair played the par-five 18th four times but could not be separated. The tournament directors then made the call to move the playoff to the short par-four third as the hole allowed a bit more light from the setting sun.

“I’m so happy. Six-hole playoff, I don’t know if I’ve been in a playoff...maybe once,” Smyth said.

“That 18th green is something else and I’m glad we changed the hole to the third. It was actually my favourite hole on the whole golf course, so it’s very fitting.”

Kazuma Kobori was the pick of the Kiwis in the field, finishing the tournament at 12-under-par and in a tie for sixth. Coming into the tournament, Kobori estimated 12-under would be a winning score on the Royal Auckland and Grange course.

He finished one shot ahead of Nick Voke, whose 11-under was good enough to see him finish in a tie for 11th, while Cameron Harlock finished in a tie for 15th at 10-under.

The next best Kiwis were Michael Hendry and Kerry Mountcastle, who finished five-under-par and in a tie for 35th.

Japan-Australasia Championship top five Kiwis in the field

Kazuma Kobori: -12 and tied for sixth

Nick Voke: -11 and tied for 11th

Cameron Harlock: -10 and tied for 15th

Michael Hendry and Kerry Mountcastle: -5 and tied for 35th