Casey Jarvis's 15-under par over four rounds at Leopard Creek in Mpumalanga, South Africa, completed his successful title defense Thursday, taking down the runner-up of his 2021 victory Yurav Premlall to become the first player to defend his title in the tournament’s seven-year history.
“I’ve always struggled to score here [Leopard Creek],” Jarvis told GolfRSA after his victory, “so I changed my strategy and I stuck to my game plan for four days. Today I played probably one of the most conservative rounds of my life. I played away from the flags and took less club off the tee to make sure I kept it in play.”
Premlall came off a pair of strong performances at the Gauten North Open (sixth) and the South African Championship (quarterfinals) to start his 2022 amateur year. Jarvis won the Gauteng North Open to begin 2022 and finished in the quarterfinals at the South African Championship.
The 2021 African Amateur Stroke Play seemed ready to repeat itself after Premlall’s four over front nine dropped him ten strokes back of Jarvis, seemingly out of reach. However, Premlall roared to life after the turn, birdieing six out of the first seven holes to claw back to within three with two to play.
Four birdies on the fly from the 10th 🔥& that's how you turn things around! @GolfRSA National Squad member Yurav Premlall rockets back to 3rd on 9-under!
— GolfRSA (@GolfRSA) February 17, 2022
2022 #AfricanAmateur | Leopard Creek#golfrsa #itstartshere #accomplish #achieve #Advance pic.twitter.com/aw9sNfIeiY
Related: The 2020 AGC Men’s Player of the Year: Casey Jarvis
“It got a bit interesting in the last three holes when my lead was down to three,” Jarvis said, “because three shots can change very quickly around here.”
Premlall proved that volatility on the par 4 17th, double-bogeying after finding the bunker twice. Then, he polished off the side with an eagle on the 18th, for a six-under back nine and a rollercoaster round of two under to finish in second place at 11-under par.
“I went bunker-to-bunker on the 17th and messed up the hole,” Premlall said to GolfRSA, “but I’m pleased with where my game is at, and it felt really good to get that eagle at the last.”
Jarvis's patient approach paid off in his closing 70, with a smoother ride of five birdies and three bogeys to the victory circle for his second victory of 2022, a solid start to matching his four victories in 2020 on route to winning amateurgolf.com's men’s player of the year.
“I’m glad I was able to hold on for the win,” Jarvis said, “I’m really proud of myself for having finally conquered this golf course.”