Casey Jarvis weathers the Stellenbosch storm to claim maiden SA Open victory

South African Casey Jarvis celebrates after winning the SA Open for the first time on Sunday afternoon in Stellenbosch. Photo: Sunshine Tour Neither driving rain, a passing thunderstorm and lightning that briefly halted play as he stood on the 18th hole, nor thesheer toughness of the 115th South African Openover the last four dayscould deter Casey Jarvisin his quest to claim a maiden South African crown. Jarvis secured back-to-back DP World Tour victories,following his exploits in Kenya last weekend, after an excellent Sunday of golf in Stellenbosch, despite the elements in the Winelands doing everything to throw him off his game.

Following a strong third round in which he took the outright lead by one shot, and unlike his challengers over the first two rounds, he never relinquished it. The 22-year-old closed with a par on the 18th, signing off with a three-under-par 67 to win the SA Open by two shots. The victory secured him entry into The Open Championship and the Masters at Augusta National in 39 days’ time.

It was a nervy wait on the final hole for his first shot as inclement weather halted play just before 4pm. Jarvis did everything he could to stay in the moment and avoid stiffening up in the delay. There was a nail-biting moment when he mishit his tee shot with a 3-wood after someone laughed during his downswing.

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The ball didn’t travel far, but it left him in good position to attack the green with his second shot, which flew safely over the water hazard. Two putts later, punctuated by a celebratory fist pump, he sealed his first SA Open title. “It was tough waiting for that storm to pass.

We stayed outside on the 18th tee and I tried not to think about the lead. I spoke to my caddie to take my mind off what was happening,” Jarvis said, after his win. “Obviously, I didn’t want that storm to happen, I just wanted to get it over with.

You get a little stiff and tense waiting. Someone then laughed on my downswing on the tee box, I caught the ball a little thin and it went low, but luckily it was flying.” For his approach shot, all he wanted was for the ball to find land and avoid the water. “I wanted to put it anywhere on land; there was water to the left of the green.

I didn’t have a good feeling when it was in the air because I pull that shot a lot. It’s probably the most nervous I’ve ever been in my life. Luckily, it landed on the green and to see that was unreal.” The famous kiss. Casey Jarvis celebrates winning the SA Open on Sunday at the Stellenbosch Golf Club.

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