American Ben Crane sank three lengthy birdie putts on his way to clinching a first PGA Tour title in more than four years with a one-shot victory at the San Diego Open Sunday. Crane overhauled third-round leader Ryuji Imada of Japan with three birdies in the first five holes and survived a nervy finish at Torrey Pines to card a two-under-par 70 for a 13-under total of 275. The 33-year-old missed a three-footer to bogey the 17th but he parred the last on the challenging South Course to earn his first victory on the US circuit since the 2005 Milwaukee Championship. Australian Mark Leishman, the 2009 PGA Tour rookie of the year, birdied two of the last three holes for a 68 and a tie for second with compatriot Michael Sim (71) and American Brandt Snedeker (69). South African Ernie Els was a further stroke back after closing with a 69 but the expected last-day charge by three-times champion Phil Mickelson failed to materialise. The American world No. 2, making his first tournament appearance of the year, bogeyed the first three holes en route to a 73 and 19th place at eight under. Crane began another sun-kissed day on the California coastline two strokes behind the pacesetting Imada and he recorded his first birdie at the par-four second where he struck a superb approach to three feet. At the tricky par-three third, he benefited from a two-shot swing to move one ahead of Imada, a lead which he never relinquished. Crane rolled in a 45-foot birdie putt up the hill while his Japanese playing partner bogeyed after three-putting from long range. Two holes later, the American picked up his third shot, ramming in a 22-footer and pumping his right fist in celebration after the ball disappeared into the cup. Out in a flawless three-under 33, Crane drained a 48-footer at the par-three 11th to keep his closest challengers at bay. He collected his first bogey of the round at the par-five 13th, where he three-putted from 14 feet, and also stumbled at the par-four 17th when he pushed his short par putt wide of the left edge of the cup. Despite finding the right rough off the tee at the par-five last, Crane laid up in two on the way to a regulation five and a one
