Jarvis leads the chasers in African Amateur

Local favourite Casey Jarvis gave the Ekurhuleni golf fans plenty to cheer about as he moved into the outright lead at Glendower Golf Club on day two of the African Amateur Stroke Play Championship.

The reigning SA Amateur champion was composure personified as he bettered his opening round 71 with a seven-under-par 65 to take a one-shot lead on Tuesday (February 9).

The 17-year-old Jarvis has struggled to find the form that won him the rare SA Amateur double last year and netted him the Freddie Tait Cup as the leading amateur in the SA Open in December.

Wayward drives and iron shots and a cold putter highlight his title defence at Randpark, but the tenacious Jarvis scrambled unbelievably well to tie for fourth and he is turning things around here at Glendower.

“I found something in my golf swing during the practice round. I hit the ball incredibly well in the first round, but I just made nothing. Today I hit it even closer, and the putts began to drop,” Jarvis explained.

Jarvis gained momentum early with an eagle on his third hole of the day – the par-5 13th.

“That eagle gave me momentum and I birdied the next two holes. I had 245 metres flag, and my caddie and decided on the rescue, starting at the right bunker to finish 20 foot right of the flag because the danger is on the left. I pulled the shot off exactly as planned and rolled in the putt for eagle.

“I birdied the second and the third, then dropped the fifth when I hit my first bad iron-shot of the week and I short-sided myself. I hit a good chip, but I missed a five-footer for par. Next hole, I hit a good iron-shot, just short-clubbed and made another drop, but then I bounced back with three birdies.

“I’m pleased with the way I played. It was one of those days where everything worked. My game plan was to keep in play and I hit a lot of fairways, a lot of greens and I made some putts. It was one of those days when it looked easy and I enjoyed it.”

The State Mines golfer knew he had a lot of fans hoping he would complete the GolfRSA South African Swing trifecta last week, but he remained composed.
“My only target for the next two rounds will be to hit as many fairways and greens as possible,” Jarvis said. “The course is not that long, but it’s tight and the rough is very thick and wet. You need to be precise off the tee. The greens are just perfect, though. It’s a great course for a championship like this. I’m just happy to be playing decent golf again, but there is still a lot of golf left, so it’s not time to think about winning. That comes on the 18th hole on the final day.”

Nipping at his heels were fellow GolfRSA national squad members Kieron van Wyk, Kyle de Beer and Christiaan Burke.

The tournament concluded on Thursday after the Advertiser had gone for print. The final results will be issued in our next issue.

Leading Scores on day two (top 20)

136 Casey Jarvis 71 65
137 Kieron van Wyk 71 66
138 Kyle de Beer 70 68
139 Christiaan Burke 73 66
140 Judd Sundelson 70 70
141 Zandre Labuschagne 72 69; Yurav Premlall 72 69; Joseph Long ENG 70 71
142 Simon du Plooy 72 70; Martin Vorster 70 72; Altin van der Merwe 70 72
143 Jonathan Broomhead 72 71; Daniel Nduva 72 71; Constantin Unger GER 71 72; Slade Pickering 70 73
144 Christopher Dyer ENG 75 69; Jean de Wouter d’oplinter BEL 75 69; Adel Balala KEN 71 73; Zachary Chegwidden ENG 70 74; Francois van der Walt 69 75.

Also: Boksburg’s Jarvis 2020 AGC Men’s Player of the Year