'20 AG POY Casey Jarvis defends African Amateur Stroke Play title

February 17, 2022 | by Kent Paisley of AmateurGolf.com

Credit RSAGolf

The 18-year-old South African star notched his ninth career victory

The location may have changed, but the script remained the same at the 2022 African Amateur Stroke Play Championship.

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.”

Jarvis steamrolled the field in his GolfRSA South African Swing Triple Crown clinching 2021 victory, defeating Premlall by eight strokes with a closing round 65. Once again, Premlall loomed in striking distance of Jarvis’s lead, sitting four behind the defending champion going into the final round. Premlall and Jarvis brought plenty of momentum into play at Leopard Creek this week.

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!

2022 #AfricanAmateur | Leopard Creek#golfrsa #itstartshere #accomplish #achieve #Advance pic.twitter.com/aw9sNfIeiY
— GolfRSA (@GolfRSA) February 17, 2022

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.”

About the GolfRSA International Amateur

'20 AG POY Casey Jarvis defends African Amateur Stroke Play title

Formerly known as the African Amateur Stroke Play, this is a 72-hole South African Golf Association event started in 2016 that brings together a highly competitive international field. Cut is made to the low 65 players after the third round.

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