Crane lifts first US tour title in fine style

LITTLE-KNOWN American Ben Crane claimed his first US Tour title in style yesterday with victory in the BellSouth Classic in Atlanta.

Crane, infamous for being voted the slowest player on tour by his fellow professionals, equalled the course record with a final-round 63 at Sugarloaf for a 16-under total of 272.

The 27-year-old from Oregon eagled the last to be home in 29 and was 17 under for his last two rounds, having just survived the halfway cut on Friday by a single shot on one over par.