Ben Crane birdies last hole to win CIMB Asia Pacific Classic Malaysia
In the first PGA Tour-sanctioned event in Southeast Asia, it was Ben Crane who came away with the victory after shooting a two-under 69 for a one stroke win over Englishman Brian Davis
at the CIMB Asia Pacific Classic Malaysia on Sunday 31 October.
The 34-year-old American, who finished at 18-under for the event, earned $1 million for his efforts at the Mines Resort in Selangor, Malaysia. Crane managed the victory thanks to an eagle
at the par-four 15th and an eight-foot birdie putt at the last. Davis did all he could down the stretch, finishing birdie-eagle-birdie to wind up one stroke behind Crane.
Englishman Luke Donald (67), who shared the lead on the final day before a disastrous triple-bogey at the ninth, finished in a tie for third at 16-under with Martin Laird of Scotland (66).
Australian Robert Allenby (64), South Africa’s Ernie Els (66), Singaporean Mardan Mamat (69), and Americans Rickie Fowler (67), D.J. Trahan (68), and Ryan Moore (69) all finished in a tie for fourth-place at 14-under.
Crane looked shaky early in the back-nine with
three straight bogeys at holes 12 through 14, causing him to fall one shot behind Laird. But at the 15th, Crane got two of those strokes back when he drove the green and sunk an eight-foot putt for eagle. Playing his final three holes in four-under-par, Davis
pulled even with Crane but the clutch birdie by the American on the last was enough to secure the victory.
Crane has three career victories on the PGA Tour, his latest coming last January at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines. That number will stay the same as yesterday’s win at the
40-player-event, also sanctioned by the Asian Tour, doesn’t qualify as a PGA Tour win. But this is unlikely to concern Crane too much, as he still managed to get a quality win against a solid field.
"I had a great opportunity with that putt (on 18) which I'll always remember,” he said. “I was so nervous and I was just praying. I just wanted to hit a good putt and to see it go into
the hole. It felt so good.”
"I just regrouped (after 12) and didn't get ahead of myself,” added Crane. “I knew I was still in the tournament. I hit an unbelievable shot on 15 with my driver and that kind of turned
things around. It was an exciting turnaround. That was an unbelievable finish.”
Davis, yet to win on the PGA Tour, came away disappointed.
"I played good all week and kept myself in the hunt,” he said. “Finished strong but it just wasn't good enough. I am quite disappointed.”
"I missed a short putt on the par-four 15th (for bogey) which was a big error there,” he continued. “But I managed to dig deep for birdie, eagle, birdie finish and thought it might be
good enough to get me into a playoff. But congratulations to Ben. Hopefully I'll get my turn next time.”
With his tie for fourth-place, Mardan, celebrating his 43rd birthday yesterday, finished as the top Asian at the event, winning $237,500, the biggest payday of his career.
"It's a good birthday gift but I'm a bit disappointed with my putting. I couldn't hole any putts but I was solid from tee to green," said the Singaporean.
Tags: