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Pike wins TPS Hunter Valley the hard way

Overnight leader Aaron Pike won the TPS Hunter Valley tournament after downing New Zealand's Momoka Kobori at the third hole of a sudden-death playoff.

Aaron Pike did it the hard way but he's the TPC Hunter Valley champion after beating young New Zealander Momoka Kobori at the third hole of a sudden-death playoff.

The big Queenslander started the final round at Cypress Lakes with a three-shot lead but rapidly surrendered it as he chased a third home tour title in the $200,000 mixed gender tournament.

Impressive throughout the Webex Series, Kobori had a great chance to follow in the footsteps of Hannah Green who claimed a landmark win for women at the TPS Murray River last month.

She charged with four consecutive birdies to finish the front nine but her putt of no more than three feet at the final hole of regulation missed as she shot a two-under 67.

Pike's clutch par in the group behind for a 70 sent the pair back to the 18th hole for a playoff when tied at eight under.

Pike's laser-like approach to within two feet of the pin at the third extra hole finally earned the 36-year-old the title in an event reduced to 54 holes.

"I didn't feel like I was doing much wrong to be honest", said Pike.

"This golf course doesn't give its shots up easy so I knew someone in front of me might be playing well but they're not going to be seven or eight-under through 10 holes.

"I couldn't believe (Kobori) was four-under through nine. I don't know what golf course she was playing. She's obviously playing like a gun at the moment."

"It's a matter of time until she wins, not if."

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