MANCHESTER, England (August 10) – South Africa’s Casey Jarvis is just 18 holes away from an international career breakthrough in the English Boys Under-14 Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship in England.

Casey Jarvis. Photo: GolfRSA.

The GolfRSA National Squad player will start his pursuit of the Reid Trophy today with a four shot lead after a brilliant recovery in Wednesday’s second round at Manchester Golf Club.

Jarvis from State Mines Country Club surged to the top of the first round leaderboard courtesy of a four-under-par 68 and he opened up a yawning gap on the chasing pack with a two under 70, despite signing for a brutal triple bogey at the par four 12th.

The Boksburg native produced some impressive iron-shots in a gusty conditions.

He birdied the first and third holes and negated a bogey at the fourth with his third gain at the par four seventh, where his sand-wedge approach finished just a foot from the hole. Jarvis turned six under, but after a par-par start on the back nine, things almost went awry at the 12th.

“I asked for relief from casual water on the fairway, but the rules official didn’t agree,” explained the 14-year-old Grant Veenstra Academy golfer. “I pushed my second shot into the long grass and tried to punch out, but the ball didn’t move. I had to take an unplayable and finished the hole with a seven.

“That triple only made me more determined to finish strong. I knew I was hitting the ball well and I knew I could come back with a good fight. I birdied 13 and my wedge from 55 metres at 14 lipped out, but I two-putted for birdie. At 16, I chipped in for another birdie.

“A four shot lead is very comfortable, but I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself. My only goal in the final round will be to hit as many fairways and greens as possible and hopefully I can make a couple of birdie putts along the way.”

Ekurhuleni stable mate Christopher Bagnall followed a first round 75 with a 76.

The Serengeti Golf and Wildlife Estate junior birdied two par fives – five and 14 – on his way to claiming a share of 27th at four over 151.

Jarvis began the second round with a one shot lead, but the expected challenge from his closest rivals Jesse Saareks from Finland and Irish junior Joshua Hill didn’t materialise.

Saareks returned a 73 to finish in sole second on 142, with Joseph Byrne from Ireland and Shergo Kurdi from Jordan a further stroke adrift after respective rounds of 73 and 70.

Hill carded a 75 and slipped to joint fifth at even-par with England’s Rory McDonald-O’Brien from England, who made some good ground with a 70.

The cut fell at 11 over, leaving exactly 70 players to contest the final round.

Submitted by: Lali Stander / GolfRSA
Main Image URL