Casey Jarvis continued his fine form clinching back-to-back DP World Tour titles and booking spots at two majors thanks to a three-shot victory at the South African Open.
The 22-year-old South African, who claimed his maiden DP World Tour success at last week’s Magical Kenya Open, came into the final round at Stellenbosch Golf Club with a narrow one-shot advantage but soon extended that lead with three birdies in his opening five holes. Fellow countryman Hennie Du Plessis looked to put Jarvis under some pressure by reducing his lead but Jarvis never let go of control throughout the final round as he went onto card a steady 3-under 67 to reach 14 under and cement victory on home turf.
“I feel on top of the world in this moment. I feel absolutely incredible,” Jarvis said. “To win in front of my home crowd in my home Open is just absolutely fantastic, I’ve got no words!
“There’s so many good memories (of this event). Brandon Stone, who’s a good friend of mine, I watched him when I was 10 years old and watched him win the SA Open.
“I just had a slight feeling from the start of the week that something crazy was going to happen and it’s incredible.”
Victory means that he joins a list including fellow South African Jayden Schaper and American Patrick Reed as the only multiple winners so far this season on the DP World Tour. Also, as a result of the new qualification rules, Jarvis has now sealed his spot at this year’s Masters and Open Championship.
Du Plessis joined Italy’s Francesco Laporta and France’s Frederic LaCroix in a tie for second on 11 under while England’s Eddie Pepperell finished in fifth a shot further adrift on 10 under.
What is the next event?
The next event on the DP World Tour schedule is the Joburg Open taking place between 5-8 March at Houghton GC in South Africa.