Golf : Ben Crane claimed his first US Tour title in style with victory in the BellSouth Classic in Atlanta yesterday.

Crane, previously infamous for being voted the slowest player on tour by his fellow professionals, equalled the course record with a final-round 63 at Sugarloaf for a 16-under total of 272.

The 27-year-old from Oregon eagled the last to be home in 29 and was 17 under for his last two rounds, having just survived the halfway cut on Friday by a single shot on one over par.

Former USPGA champion Bob Tway, who led by four shots at one stage in the final round, was four shots back in second with former US Open champion Retief Goosen a shot further adrift in joint third alongside American duo Jay Williamson and Hank Kuehne.

Overnight leader Lee Janzen stumbled to a closing 77 to finish in a tie for 13th, going from six ahead of Crane to eight shots behind.

Crane, in only his second year on the tour, said: "I played great today. I knew if I could go low I would have a chance but I'm still a little numb.

"I've been struggling on the weekends, making a lot of cuts but not making a move on the weekend, but I played fantastic on Saturday and I was able to get hot with my putter and that's what carried the momentum through the last two rounds".

"I never looked at the leaderboards but after I played the 14th someone shouted out that I was only one behind. Then after I finished on the 17th I had a look at the leaderboard because I wanted to know what I needed to do on the last.

"My caddie said just make a par and we'll be all right.".

In fact Crane hit a drive 357 yards to set up a closing eagle to seal victory and the US Dollars 720,000 first prize.

"It's a life-long goal to play in the Masters and although I just missed out it doesn't really take anything away from this win," added Crane, who qualifies for the US Open and USPGA but no the US Masters.

"I think it's a blessing after my first big win that I can go home and take two weeks off."

Goosen warmed up for next week's US Masters with an admirable defence of the title. The South African - who finished second behind Tiger Woods at Augusta 12 months ago - fired a final round of 65.

"I was really too far behind, yesterday's round (74) killed me," admitted Goosen, who finished in style with a birdie on the last to be home in 31, playing a brilliant bunker shot from 25 yards to within three feet of a pin guarded by water lurking dangerously behind.

"If I could have got a few more birdies coming home I might have had a better chance but at the end of the day I'm pretty happy with where I am.

"I'm starting to hit the ball quite nicely but not putting as well as I would like. I feel like I'm driving the ball better than last year but my irons are not so good and that means your putting is not going to be as good." The former US Open champion will head to Augusta tomorrow and play a practice round on Tuesday to familiarise himself with the changes made to the course.

"It's changed a lot over the last couple of years so it will be interesting to see what it will be like," added the European number one for the last two years.

"Last year it played very long with all the rain but this year hopefully the weather forecast is a bit better.

"Today was a nice round to take to next week. A few more of those next week would be nice."

The Former Open champion Paul Lawrie was also delighted to birdie the last and finish with a closing 68 for a nine-under total of 279.

Bristol's John E Morgan carded a final round of 72 to finish one under for the tournament, alongside France's Thomas Levet and Swede Jesper Parnevik.

FINAL ROUND SCORES

(US unless stated)

272 - Ben Crane 73 72 64 63.

276 - Bob Tway 70 66 69 71 .

277 - Retief Goosen (South Africa) 68 70 74 65, Jay Williamson 68 72 70 67, Hank Kuehne 71 69 67 70.