Irish shine as teen star Jarvis streaks to record South African Stroke Play win
Casey Jarvis etched his name into the record books as the youngest winner in South African Stroke Play Championship history when he claimed the prestigious title with a nine-stroke victory at Randpark Golf Club. Picture: Ernest Blignault.
Four Irishmen finished in the top ten as local teenager Casey Jarvis became the youngest winner in the history of the South African Stroke Play Championship.
The South African tyro claimed the prestigious title in dominant fashion at Randpark Golf Club aged 16 years, six months and 17 days, firing a seven-under 65 to win by nine strokes from compatriot Kyle de Beer with a record aggregate of 25-under-par 263.
Jarvis eclipsed the previous age record held by the renowned Dale Hayes, who won the first edition of the flagship event at 16 years and eight months at Humewood Golf Club in 1969.
Jarvis laid down a marker with an opening six-under-par 66, opened up a two-shot lead with a second-round 67 and stretched his advantage to four shots over Hermitage's Rowan Lester with a 65 on moving day.
In the final round, he followed three opening pars with a trio of birdies from the par-five fourth and never looked back.
He led De Beer and Lester by eight shots through the turn but refused to take his boot off the gas and birdied the 12th, chipped in for eagle at the par-five 14th and then birdied the 16th before closing with two pars.
His success came down to an unwavering belief that he could win, his affinity for the Firethorn Course and his partnership with legendary caddie Tiger Lekhune – the man who once famously told Tiger Woods "Nice to meet you, but I'm the original Tiger", and who carried the bag for most of Major champion Nick Price's 48 worldwide wins.
He also helped steer Jarvis to victory in Randpark in the Joburg Junior Open last December.
"My dad almost always carries for me, and we've won some big ones," said Jarvis. "Tiger took the bag for the Joburg Junior Open, so I asked him to carry for me again this week. He's been at Randpark for more than 25 years, and he reads the greens better than anyone I know.
"He is also good at calming me down. I am very fast. I walk fast, I hit fast and I putt fast. Because he is slower, he slows me down. It actually helps me to focus. He is so experienced and he knows just when to speak up and when to back off. It's been a great week for us."
He added: "This has been a dream. To win the SA Stroke Play is the best achievement of my career. It was a magic week where I really played my best golf and got rewarded for it.
De Beer shot 67 to finish alone in second on 16-under with Dundalk's Caolan Rafferty – a semi-finalist in last year's SA Amateur - closing with a 67 to finish in third on 15-under and back up his share of sixth with James Sugrue in last week's African Amateur Strokeplay.
Amateur champion Sugrue also had a good trip to South Africa as he prepares for the Masters, closing with a 68 to finish sixth again on 12-under.
Holywood's Tom McKibbin also showed his class by following his 64 on Wednesday with a 67 to tie for seventh with Lester on 11-under.
Lester will be disappointed with his 75, but after missing the cut at Leopard Creek, he will draw confidence from his 22-birdie haul over the four rounds at Randpark.
Malone's Matthew McClean also had a good week, closing with a 70 to tie for 20th on seven-under as Naas' Robert Brazill came home tied for 53rd on two-over after a 75.
South African Stroke Play Championship, Randpark Golf Club (Par 72)
Detailed scores (RSA unless stated)
