Jarvis charges to Africa Junior Open victory

12 August 2018 – In July, GolfRSA National Squad player Casey Jarvis eclipsed the leaders to lift the Nomads SA Boys Under-17 Championship title with a final round eight-under-par 64 at Middelburg Country Club.

On Sunday, the 15-year-old from Boksburg lived up to his billing as one of the best closers on the junior circuit when conjured up a trio of birdies over the last three holes at the Fish River Resort to come from behind and win the Africa Junior Open.

Jarvis opened with an even-par 72 on Saturday morning. In the afternoon, he went two shots better to start the final round three shots behind Kieron van Wyk.

He was still trailing the Central Gauteng golfer after 51 holes, but he got within a shot of Van Wyk with a birdie at the par five 16th.

Jarvis drew level with the leader when he drained a long birdie putt at the par three 17th and a birdie finish for a final round four-under 68 landed him the clubhouse lead at five-under 211.

Van Wyk was four-under playing the final hole, but ruined his chances of forcing the tournament into extra time with a double bogey finish.

Jarvis was side-lined with an intercostal muscle injury after the Nomads SA Boys Under-17 event and winning straight off the bench is a huge confidence booster for the Grant Veenstra Junior Golf Academy member.

“You lose your edge when you don’t compete,” said Jarvis, who will be heading to Italy at the end of the month to compete in the Italian Under-16 Championship.

“I didn’t know what to expect after a four week lay-off and it took me a while to get into competitive mode again. There were a couple of ugly holes, but thankfully I saved the best for last.

“I made a great up-and-down for birdie from the bunker at 16 and I holed a 20-footer for birdie at 17. I went with a 3-iron off the tee at 18, hit 9-iron in to 10 feet and made the putt. I was disappointed for Kieron, because it would have been brilliant to face him in a play-off.

“I’m stoked with the win. When you head abroad, you want to take your best form. I didn’t lose too much ground with the lay-off and I still have a couple of weeks to prepare.”

Van Wyk from the South African Golf Development Board signed for a 74 to tie 2018 Tshwane Junior Open champion Samuel Simpson for second on 214.

Western Province’s Simpson, who closed with a 73, will also be travelling to Italy with Jarvis, Yurav Premlall from Ekurhuleni, Central Gauteng’s Kian Rose and 2018 Junior Open winner Martin Vorster, who will be lining up in title defence at the Golf Club Biella.

Meanwhile Ryan van Velzen from Ekurhuleni closed with a 71 to finish fourth on one-under.

Rose, Nikhil Rama and Jordan Duminy tied for fifth on 217. Rose returned an even-par 72, Rama from Central Gauteng carded 68 and Southern Cape’s Duminy claimed the low round honours on the final day with a five-under-par 67.

Click HERE to view the Final Result

Written and released by Lali Stander on behalf of GolfRSA.