Jarvis charges to Africa Junior Open victory
“There were a couple of ugly holes, but thankfully I saved the best for last.”
In July, GolfRSA national squad player and State Mines Country Club junior Casey Jarvis (15) eclipsed the leaders to lift the Nomads SA Boys u-17 Championship title with a final round eight-under-par 64 at Middelburg Country Club.
The teenager lived up to his billing on August 12 as one of the best closers on the junior circuit when he 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.
Also read: Jarvis selected for Italian job
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.
Also read: Red-hot Jarvis enjoys Nomads SA Boys bliss
Jarvis was sidelined with an intercostal muscle injury after the Nomads SA Boys u-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 u-16 Championship.
“I didn’t know what to expect after a four-week layoff and it took me a while to get into competitive mode again.”
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