Ben Crane hits a tee shot on the fourth hole during the first round of the FedEx St. Jude Classic at the TPC Southwind on June 5, 2014 in Memphis, Tennessee. PHOTO: AFP
Ben Crane, seeking his first US PGA triumph since 2011, fired a five-under par 65 on Friday to seize a six-stroke lead at the storm-hit $5.8 million St. Jude Classic.
The 38-year-old American made six birdies before closing with his only bogey of the round to finish 36 holes on 12-under 128.
Crane’s nearest pursuers on the course were Sweden’s Carl Pettersson and American Jason Bohn, each on six-under. Pettersson had one hole to complete and Bohn two.
“I certainly didn’t expect to be here,” said Crane of his spot atop the leaderboard. “If someone would have told me a couple days ago I would be standing in front of a bunch of cameras, I would have asked, ‘What did I do?’”
With only one top-25 showing in 16 events his season, Crane has struggled but found form after changing his swing to ease pain in his back.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 8th, 2014.
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