Ben Crane rolled in eight birdies on his way to setting the pace on the first day of the Insperity Invitational on Friday at The Woodlands (Texas) Country Club.
Crane’s 7-under-par 65 was enough for a one-shot edge over Shane Bertsch, Boo Weekley, Australia’s Richard Green and Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee.
Another stroke back at 67 were Steven Alker of New Zealand, Ernie Els of South Africa, Rory Sabbatini of Slovakia and South Koreans Charlie Wi and Y.E. Yang.
Crane, a five-time winner on the PGA Tour, turned 50 in March and is hunting for his first win on the PGA Tour Champions. He finished runner-up at the Senior PGA Championship last month and is in this field on a sponsor’s exemption.
“Tom Lehman told me before we came here, ‘This is the best event of the year,’” Crane said. “So I was fortunate enough, by the tournament director, Bryan, to give me a sponsor exemption and be here. So I am thankful to be here.”
Crane birdied six of his first 10 holes Friday before cooling off. After his lone bogey at the par-3 14th, where he missed the green off the tee, Crane birdied the next two holes, including a lengthy putt at the par-3 16th.
“I love the Champions Tour. This is the greatest place I’ve ever been to play golf,” Crane went on to say. “It’s more fun. The guys are more relaxed. But everyone’s grinding. You get to practice as much as you want.”
Bertsch, 56, prevailed once on the PGA Tour Champions back in 2020 and is vying for a return to the winner’s circle. He only got into this week’s field as the second alternate.
“I’ve been in this position this year, unfortunately, just because of, you know, I’m not the greatest player last year, so I’ve been hanging around as first alternate a couple weeks,” Bertsch said. “… You could have a chance to get in and be out all of a sudden if you’re not around (at the course). So it’s kind of nerve-wracking. But it was nice to get in.”
Bertsch played the back nine first and made four birdies with one bogey, then reached the green in two at the par-5 first hole and eagled for a nice bump up the leaderboard. He added one last birdie at the par-5 sixth.
Stewart Cink, the defending champion and winner of the season’s first two majors, opened with a 4-under 68.
–Field Level Media
