Golf roundup: Ben Crane goes wire to wire to win St. Jude Classic

Ben Crane won the St. Jude Classic on Sunday for his first PGA Tour title since 2011, closing with a three-over-par 73 for a one-stroke victory.

Crane went wire to wire for his fifth career victory. He played 30 holes on the last day because of rain delays at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tenn., finishing the final 12 holes of his third-round 69 in the morning to take a three-shot lead into the final round.

He two-putted for bogey on the final hole to finish at 10-under 270.

Troy Merritt was second after a 71. Webb Simpson (65), Matt Every (70) and Carl Pettersson (69) tied at eight under, and Ian Poulter had a 64 to tie for sixth at seven under.

Phil Mickelson, among those tuning up for the U.S. Open at Pinehurst, left winless in his 20th event since the British Open. He tied for 11th at 6 under after a 72.

Consecutive birdies on Nos. 11 and 12 put Mickelson at eight under. But he bogeyed the next two, including the par-three 14th where he hit a seven-iron into the water in front of the green. He still finished much better than his tie for 49th at Memorial last week after an early visit from FBI agents and lingering questions about an insider-trading investigation.

“The way I drove the ball last two rounds I had an opportunity to shoot really low,” Mickelson said. “My iron play was poor, and my putting was pathetic. I’ll have to make some changes and to get ready for next week. But the game is not far off because I’m driving the ball very well and putting it in play.”

Wind, thunderstorms, lightning and fog have delayed play each of the first three days. With more storms forecast, players started the final round almost immediately after concluding the third. They finished without single delay Sunday as the sun even came out as this tournament finished its 57th year without being shortened because of weather.

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Inbee Park won the Manulife Financial Classic in Waterloo, Canada, on Sunday for her first LPGA Tour title in more than 11 months, matching the course record with a 10-under 61 for a three-stroke victory over Cristie Kerr.

A week after losing the top spot in the world ranking to Stacy Lewis, Park finished at 23-under 261 at Grey Silo for her 10th LPGA Tour title and first since the U.S. Women’s Open. She had only one bogey in 72 holes, on the fourth hole in the first round.

The 25-year-old South Korean star played the front nine in five-under 31 and added birdies on Nos. 10, 12-14 and 18 to match the course record set last year by Hee Young Park.

Park ended a 20-event tour winless streak. Last year, she swept the first three majors and finished the season with six victories. She also won the Ladies European Tour’s World Ladies Championship three months ago in China.

Kerr finished with a 63. China’s Shanshan Feng, two strokes ahead of Park and Michelle Wie entering the round, had a 68 to finish third at 18 under.

Lydia Ko and Belen Mozo tied for fourth at 16 under. The 17-year-old Ko closed with a 66, and Mozo shot 65. Lewis and Wie followed at 15 under. Lewis had a 63, and Wie shot 69.

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Mikael Lundberg beat Bernd Wiesberger in a playoff to win the Lyoness Open in Atzenbrugg, Austria, for his first European Tour title in six years and third overall. The Swede birdied the first playoff hole with a gutsy long putt to wrap up the victory.

Lundberg, who made three birdies in a row on his way to a 65, and Wiesberger, who shot 69, were tied at 12 under after the fourth round.

Defending champion Joost Luiten, who teed off the final day with a two-stroke lead over Wiesberger, carded a par 72. The Dutchman finished third, one stroke off the lead.

England’s Lee Slattery scored 66 to finish another stroke back in fourth. Lundberg won the Russian Open in 2005 and 2008.