Crane records maiden victory

Ben Crane fired a nine-under-par 63 today to record his maiden victory on the PGA Tour in the $4-million BellSouth Classic.

Ben Crane fired a nine-under-par 63 today to record his maiden victory on the PGA Tour in the $4-million BellSouth Classic.

The 27-year-old Crane finished on 16-under 272, five shots ahead of Bob Tway, who could manage only a one-under 71 in the final round.

Crane earned $720,000 in becoming the initial first-time winner on tour this season.

Defending champion Retief Goosen (65), who had slipped badly in the third round with a 74, gained a tie for third place on 277 with Jay Williamson (67) and Hank Kuehne (70).

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John Rollins and Stewart Cink each shot a three-under 69 to gain, a share of sixth place, six strokes behind Crane.

Third-round leader Lee Janzen, twice a winner of the U.S. Open, faltered early, making four bogeys in a five-hole stretch on the front nine.

He finished five-over for the round on 280 in a tie for 13th.

Crane played the first two rounds here in one-over before finishing 17-under on his two weekend rounds. His best finish before the BellSouth had been a second in last season's Byron Nelson Classic.