Crane wins in San Diego

Ben Crane withstood a nervy finish to claim a one-shot victory at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in San Diego.

American Crane landed the third PGA Tour win of his career with a 13 under par total thanks to a closing two-under-par 70, having started the day two strokes behind 54-hole leader Ryuji Imada of Japan.

Having held a two-shot lead going to the 17th, Crane bogeyed the penultimate hole to narrow his advantage heading to the 72nd hole, with Australia’s Michael Sim, playing alongside, Marc Leishman and American Brandt Snedeker in the clubhouse, all on 12 under.

Rookie Sim could not add further pressure on Crane as he parred the last for a 71 to stay at 12 under, leaving Crane to putt for par and victory.

American Michael Allen shot a seven-under-par 65 on his 51st birthday to claim a share of fifth place at 11 under alongside PGA Tour rookies Alex Prugh (66) and Rickie Fowler (70) and South Africa’s Ernie Els (69).

Imada’s hopes of a third victory of his own in the US faded early after he bogeyed two of his first seven holes and the Japanese player finished with a three over 75 at 10 under in a tie for ninth with 2009 champion Nick Watney, Charles Howell III and DA Points of the United States and Robert Allenby of Australia.

Fowler’s hopes of a maiden victory had disappeared at the par-four 17th, where he double bogeyed on the way to a 70 while Allenby had also been in contention until he got the wrong end of a ruling having sent his ball into a hazard at the 17th.

No one but Allenby saw the ball enter the hazard and, having been unable to find it, the official said its presence in a thicket could not be verified and therefore the Australian had to go back to the tee box rather than being allowed a drop.

The subsequent triple bogey followed bogeys at the 14th and 15th but Allenby finished in style with an eagle three at the last.

World number two Phil Mickelson struggled in his home town on the final day. The left-hander started four strokes behind Imada but was quickly on the back foot with three bogeys in a row to open and the American finished with a one-over 73 to close at eight under for the week.

Sweden’s Fredrik Jacobson and Justin Rose of England each shot a closing 70 to close at six under in a tie for 22nd, while Scotsman Martin Laird saved his best round of the week for last with a 68 to get to five under and a tie for 27th.