Crane holds off Brits in Malaysia
Ben Crane won the CIMB Asia Pacific Classic by a stroke in Malaysia yesterday, holding off a strong closing challenge from the British trio of Brian Davis, Martin Laird and Luke Donald.
Crane began the day as leader, but he looked to be flagging during Sunday's final round at the Mines Resort, the 34-year-old's two early birdies being wiped out as he carded three bogeys on the bounce. Just as the wheels seemed to be coming off, however, the American followed up with an eight foot eagle putt on the very next hole to go one-under.
A final birdie on the 18th saw Crane finish two-under-par for the round, 18-under for the tournament, thus sparing viewers the drama of a play-off; the famously slow-playing pro had claimed victory by a one-stroke margin, though because this is not an official PGA Tour event, the win does not count towards the PGA money-list.
Brian Davis finished in second place for the third time this year, the Englishman carding four bogeys and three birdies up to the 15th before suddenly finding top gear at the last; Davis birdied 16th and 18th holes, with an eagle on the 17th that meant he finished five-under for the round, and 17-under in total. Davis is still awaiting his first PGA Tour victory.
Last week's Shriners Open winner Scotland’s Martin Laird continued to impress this week, shooting five birdies without putting a foot wrong to finish tied for third place on 16-under. He was joined by England's Luke Donald, who went four-under yesterday but would surely have stolen victory were it not for a triple-bogey on the 9th.
The 32-year-old played his usual dependable game for much of the day, but just before the turn Donald's reliability deserted him, losing his ball in the trees after a poor tee shot.
Australia's Robert Allenby, South Africa's Ernie Els and the USA's Rickie Fowler were amongst those tied for fifth place on 14-under-par. Allenby also posted the lowest round of the day, a bogey-free seven-under par 64. Though the 39-year-old has gone close in recent years, he hasn't won on the PGA Tour since September 2001.
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