Casey Jarvis from State Mines Country Club surged to the top of the leaderboard, thanks to a sensational finish on Tuesday’s opening day of the English Boys Under-14 Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship at Manchester Golf Club.
The GolfRSA National Squad player made a strong start in the challenge for the Reid Trophy, with an opening four-under-par 68. Seemingly oblivious to the wet conditions, the Boksburg competitor navigated the front nine in level par and produced an eagle three and two birdies over the last five holes to set the first-round target.
‘I played solidly from tee to green and had a really good finish over the toughest holes on the course,’ said Jarvis, who only turned 14 last month. ‘I’m really happy with that start.’
Fellow Ekurhuleni golfer Christopher Bagnall carded a three-over 75. The Serengeti Golf and Wildlife Estate junior mixed birdies at two, nine and 16 with six drops to tie for 25th.
Jarvis made his debut in the prestigious junior championship last year. He was in the mix throughout and finished the 54-hole event in a tie for fifth.
Early this season he came agonisingly close to victory in the Nomads SA Boys U-15 Championship, and followed the runner-up finish with a top-five placing in the SA Under-15 Challenge Gowrie in April.
Testing the waters on the Under-19 circuit this year, the 14-year-old showcased his blossoming talent during last month’s Tshwane Junior Open, where he clinched a top-10 finish in a field loaded with South Africa’s top under-19 stars.
Jarvis slept on a one shot lead over Fin Jesse Saareks and Irish junior Joshua Hill, and he will start the second round two shots clear of Scotland’s Cameron Adam and Joseph Byrne from Ireland.
Saareks from Koski grabbed a share of the lead with a pair of birdies at 13 and 14, but slipped back to three under when he bogeyed the closing hole. Hill, who lost the Irish Boys Under-14 Open in a play-off at the weekend, was flawless for his 69.
At the end of Wednesday’s second round, the field will be cut, and only the leading 70 players and ties will contest the final round on Thursday.
Picture of Jarvis courtesy of Russell Bagnal