Ben Crane wins McGladrey Classic

Ben Crane of the USA won the McGladrey Classic at Sea Island, Georgia, coming through a playoff against his countryman Webb Simpson.

Ben Crane
Fergus Bisset
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published

Ben Crane of the USA won the McGladrey Classic at Sea Island, Georgia, coming through a playoff against his countryman Webb Simpson.

Crane wasn't even certain he would play at the start of the week. His wife was due to give birth this Monday via Caesarian section and he had a hip injury that was beginning to feel worse.

"What the heck am I doing here?" said Crane as he sat beside the trophy at the end of the tournament.

Crane was a full seven shots off the lead with just 11 holes left to play, but four straight birdies around the turn, then another four birdies on the back nine were enough to force him into a tie at the top of the leaderboard with Webb Simpson.

Sudden-death was required to separate the pair and it was over on the second extra hole when Simpson missed a short putt.

Although disappointed not to take the title, Simpson could console himself with the fact that his second place cheque for $432,000 was sufficient to take him past Luke Donald at the top of the PGA Tour money list.

"Finishing second is going to make it a lot harder for Luke," Simpson said. "But I'm sure he's going to play well. He's played well most every week this year. I still wouldn't be surprised if I have a little work to do next week."

It was a good week for two South African former Major winners Louis Oosthuizen and Trevor Immelman. They finished in third and fourth places respectively.

The McGladrey Classic Seaside Course, Sea Island, Georgia Oct 13-16, purse $4,000,000, par 70

1   Ben Crane (USA)      65   70   67   63   265   $720,000 2   Webb Simpson (USA)   63   67   69   66   265   $432,000 3   Michael Thompson (USA) 65   65   67   69   266   $272,000    4   Louis Oosthuizen (RSA)   65   67   69   66   267   $192,000 5   Trevor Immelman (RSA) 66   71   62   69   268   $160,000 T6   Angel Cabrera (Arg)   65   70   68   67   270   $125,200 T6   Scott McCarron (USA)   64   70   68   68   270   $125,200 T6   Nick O'Hern (Aus)   65   67   69   69   270   $125,200 T6   Jeff Overton (USA)   66   69   66   69   270   $125,200 T6   Kevin Streelman (USA)   66   70   66   68   270   $125,200

Note: Player score in bold signifies Titleist ball usage only

Fergus Bisset
Fergus Bisset
Contributing Editor

Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He has also worked with Golf Monthly to produce a podcast series. Called 18 Majors: The Golf History Show it offers new and in-depth perspectives on some of the most important moments in golf's long history. You can find all the details about it here.

He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly.

Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?

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