SHIHO KUWAKI secured her first major title by defeating Esther Henseleit in a dramatic Women’s Open play-off at Royal Lytham & St Annes on Sunday evening.

Henseleit moved to five under alongside Kuwaki with a stunning 45-foot birdie putt on the 18th, to match her opponent’s final-round 70, meaning a play-off on the par-four 18th was required to separate the pair.

Both players made pars on the first of two extra holes, Germany’s Henseleit missing a 10-foot birdie putt that would have seen her crowned champion.

And it was Kuwaki who then emerged victorious, two-putting for par while Henseleit could only manage a bogey after driving her tee shot into a gorse bush to the right of the fairway.

Speaking at the trophy presentation, 23-year-old Kuwaki said: “I just can’t believe it. To be on a stage like this is an honour and every hole I was just focused on shot by shot. I just tried to enjoy it as much as I could.

“Thank you to all the fans. I’d like to thank my family and my team. Recently we had an earthquake in Japan and I’d like to wish people a speedy recovery and best wishes.

“It’s an amazing feeling to win again as a Japanese player. I hope as a team we can continue to light up the golf world.”

Kuwaki’s triumph saw her become Japan’s second successive Women’s Open champion after Miyu Yamashita’s win last year.

American Yealimi Noh finished a shot back, having taken a three-shot lead into the final round, while the world’s top two players Nelly Korda and Jeeno Thitikul were left to share fourth place.

English duo Charley Hull and Lottie Woad each finished four strokes back, among a group tied for sixth, both unable to muster late challenges for their first major crowns with respective final rounds of 72 and 73.