Chiba, Japan – Sang-Moon Bae defeated Kenichi Kuboya on the death playoff hole Sunday to win the Japan Open 2011 on the Japan Golf Tour.
The victory was Bae's third of the season on the circuit. He is the tour's leading money winner and after Sunday's win, it's expected that Bae will move into the top 50 in the world rankings.
Bae posted an even-par 71 on Sunday and Kuboya had a one-under 70 at Takanodai Country Club. They finished regulation at two-under 282 and it was Bae's par at the first extra hole that gave him the title.
Third-round leader Nobuhito Sato bogeyed the 17th en route to a five-over 76. That bogey cost him a shot at a playoff as he came in at one-under 283 for third.
Neven Basic's four-over 75 cost him any chances at sudden-death. He settled for fourth place at even-par 284.
Taichi Teshima carded a two-over 73 and took fifth at one-over 285.
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