KODAIRA CLAIMS TOUR CARD AS POULTER FADES

JAPAN’S Satoshi Kodaira birdied the third play-off hole to win the RBC Heritage and his PGA Tour card.

He made a 25-footer at the par three 17th to beat South Korea’s Si Woo Kim after they had tied on 12-under par at Harbour Town Golf Links.

Five behind Ian Poulter overnight, Kodaira (28) posted a five-under-par 66 to set the target.

As Graeme McDowell (right) closed with a oneunder 70 to finish tied for 55th on level par, Poulter faded to a 75 and seventh place.

Reigning Players champion Kim moved to 15-under with eight holes to go but bogeyed the 12th, 15th and 17th before missing a six-foot birdie chance for victory at the 18th.

The two Asian players parred the 18th twice in sudden death before world No 48 Kodaira made two at the 17th for victory in just his 15th PGA Tour start. In amateur golf, Sweden’s Kajsa Arwefjall overcame a three-stroke final-round deficit to win the Irish Girls’ Open Stroke Play Championship by a stroke from compatriot Louise Rydqvist.

She carded a three-over par 74 at Roganstown Golf & Country Club to triumph on four-over 217 as 36-hole leader Rydqvist made six bogeys in her first seven holes en route to a closing 78. Ireland’s Nicole JoyceMoreno birdied the 16th and 17th tie for ninth on 226 after a 78.

In the weather-reduced Dublin Scratch Foursomes at Grange, home pair Nils Conway and Donal Dunlop shot 75 to win by two strokes from The Island’s Alex Crowley and Wexford’s Rhys Clarke, and Hermitage pair Brian O’Connor and John McCormack.