Magical Kenya Open: S.African golfer Casey Jarvis holds nerve to win Sh60m top prize

The 22-year-old Jarvis from the State Mines Country Club in Brakpan, South Africa, who turned professional at the age of 19 in 2023, rolled in an eagle three at the par five-18th when play resumed for the second time, for the final round score of eight under par 62. He registered a combined total of 25 under par 255. He beat America’s Davis Bryant by three shots in the high- scoring tournament. Only one local player - Njoroge Kibugu - made the second round cut and played in the final two rounds.

The day started well for Jarvis, who is ranked 195th globally and had not won any DP World Tour event before yesterday. He picked up two successive birdies in the first two holes, dropped a shot at the third, but recovered with birdies on the fourth and sixth holes. He then rolled in a two-club at the par four-12th, added a birdie at the 13th. He, however, missed a par at the 15th but recovered at the 17th, where he birdied before play was stopped because of rain.

When play resumed, Jarvis drove to about 200 metres to the green and fired a superb approach shot, which was watched by, among others, President William Ruto, to about a foot to the pin. He dropped it for an eagle three, to complete the day’s 62. His 72-hole aggregate of 25 under par was four shots better than the record of 21 under par registered by his fellow South African, Justin Harding, in 2021 when the course was played as par 71. Overall winner Jarvis won top prize of US$ 459,000 (Sh60 million).

“ I was so nervous coming down the last two holes, so yes, it feels great to have won. Words can’t describe the feeling. I also wish my mum were here, but she is back home in the UK. But it's unbelievable that she has been with me through ups and downs. I know this moment doesn’t happen often, so we are going to celebrate properly tonight,” Jarvis said.

America’s Bryant Davis shot six under par 64, a bogey-free round which included three birdies in each round for a total of 22 under par 258. He was a shot better than South Africa’s Hennie Du Plessis, who finished third on 21 under par 259.

Earlier during the day, Kenya’s only survivor in the tournament, Njoroge Kibugu, had made a tremendous recovery from his third round disastrous 74, to five under par 65 and finished in 61st place with a total of six under par.

Kibugu, who is sponsored by NCBA Bank, said he did everything in the final round to finish with a decent score. He now shifts focus to Sunshine Tour in South Africa starting April.

“We Kenyans need to match the international players in the Magical Kenya Open, and the way to do it is for companies to identify a player they believe has the experience and potential, then support him all the way. That way, it will not take long before a Kenyan player matches the international golfers,” he said.

Kibugu said the third round score gave him a chance to think and focus on the final. “When I went home on Saturday, I thought so much about how I played, and to the course ready to fire for the final round. I am glad I was able to finish with a decent score’’. Kibugu took home USD 7,150 (about Sh922,350).

This year, the four under cut was the best ever since the Magical Kenya Open became part of the DP World Tour series. Of the past winners, Justin Harding tied for 56th place on seven under par.

While defending champion Jacques Kruyswijk finished tied 18th on 14 under par 266, while the best of the past winners was Sweden’s Sebastian Soderberg, who shot six under par 64 for a total of 16 under par 264.

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