An enthralling final day saw the lead change hands on a number of occasions but it was always Pike and Kobori in the top two positions, ultimately finishing tied at eight-under and three clear of the field.

Kobori had a short putt of no more than three feet at the 72nd hole that would have secured the title, Pike’s clutch par in the group behind sending the pair back to the 18th hole for a sudden-death playoff.

Both failed to find the fairway with their tee shots yet Pike threaded a brilliant approach around a tree to just 12 feet behind the hole as Kobori found the front edge.

Pike’s birdie try just missed on the low side and when Kobori holed out from four feet the playoff went to a second hole.

Both found the fairway at their second attempt and traded pars once again, Pike two-putting from the front edge as Kobori’s birdie attempt from the left side of the green stayed on the high side of the hole.

But it was Pike’s laser-like approach to two feet at the third extra hole that earned the 36-year-old the title.

The TPS Junior Players Series Hunter Valley also went extra holes, Newcastle’s Ella Scaysbrook winning at the second playoff hole.