The US’ Ben Crane defied recent poor form to post a bogey-free seven-under 63 and surge to a two-shot lead in a weather-affected first round of the FedEx St Jude Classic in Memphis on Thursday.
Crane, a four-time winner on the US tour, but without a title since 2011, sits alone as the clubhouse leader after darkness halted play with 60 players still to complete their rounds due to an earlier storm delay.
The US’ Peter Malnati (65) and Billy Horschel, five-under through 16 holes, shared second place at five-under.
Major winners Retief Goosen (66) and Zach Johnson (15 holes) were joined by Joe Durant (66), Jason Bohn (14 holes) and Australian Stuart Appleby (17 holes) in a tie for fourth at four-under.
Phil Mickelson, a runner-up last year, started his tune-up for the US Open with a solid 67, leaving him in a tie for ninth.
Playing the back nine of TPC Southwind first, Crane started modestly with birdies on the 11th and 16th holes before making his move at the turn.
Three birdies on the trot to start the front side and two to finish sent the 38-year-old to the top of the pile, unfamiliar ground for Crane in recent times.
Since a tie for ninth at the Humana Challenge in January, Crane has not finished better than a tie for 32nd and missed five of his past seven cuts leading in.
Malnati, a 26-year-old rookie coming off the secondary web.com tour, was another surprise packet.
His 65 equaled his career low on tour and was his first round in the 60s since early March in Puerto Rico.
Mickelson, who will attempt to complete a career grand slam at the US Open next week, was treading water at one-over through 11 holes before making birdies on four of his last seven to push right into the mix.
Defending champion Harris English struggled to a 73.
? AUSTRIAN OPEN
AFP, ATZENBRUGG, Austria
Swede Mikael Lundberg and Englishman Adam Gee earned a share of the first-round lead at the Austrian Open after both players carded five-under-par rounds of 67 on Thursday.
Lundberg, whose two previous European Tour wins came at the Russian Open in 2005 and 2008, recorded six birdies against a single bogey at Diamond Country Club to leave himself well-positioned in his quest for a first European Tour title in six years.
“I played pretty solid all day and made a few putts, so it all added up to a pretty good day,” Lundberg said.
Gee, the world No. 693, also dropped just one stroke in an opening round that featured four birdies as well as an eagle on his approach shot at the 13th.
Lundberg and Gee hold a one-shot lead over a chasing pack of four players, with Frenchman Thomas Levet one of several golfers another stroke further back.
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