Leader Casey Jarvis chasing second South African success in Dunhill Links
Rising Springbok star aiming to follow in Branden Grace’s footsteps on Old Course
It’s already been a special week for Johann Rupert, the Dunhill Links supremo, and it would probably be quite fitting if the 25th edition of the DP World Tour event fell to a South African.
Just one Springbok - Branden Grace in 2012 - has claimed the crown over the years, but he could be emulated on Sunday night by a rising South African star in Casey Jarvis.
On the back of polished efforts at Carnoustie and Kingsbarns on the opening two days, the 23-year-old added a five-under-par 67 in his third circuit at St Andrews on Saturday. It was sparked by a hole-out for an eagle 2 at the par-4 tenth - his opening hole - with birdies following at the 11th, 13th, 14th, third and fifth in a blemish-free effort.
Sitting on 18 under par, Jarvis, a two-time winner already this season and sitting sixth in the Race to Dubai Ranking, leads by two shots from Englishman Matthew Jordan and Pole Adrian Meronk, with Belgian Thomas Detry a shot further back.
“Every golfer dreams of taking a lead playing the Old Course on Sunday,” admitted Jarvis, who got his first taste of links golf playing in the U.S. Kids European Championship in East Lothian tied for sixth behind Ryan Fox in this year’s 154th Open at Royal Birkdale.
“I’ve got goosebumps right now just standing here. I just can't wait for tomorrow. Even if I don't win, I'm just going to enjoy it as much as I can.”
Jordan, who shot a bogey-free 66 at Kingsbarns in his third circuit, has already tasted success on a Sunday on the Old Course, having triumphed in the St Andrews Links Trophy in 2017 when he was an amateur. “My first big title,” he said of that. “It’s a place I’m quite fond of.”
Matt Fitzpatrick, the 2024 winner, stormed up the leaderboard after picking up six birdies in the first seven holes at St Andrews before covering the remainder of the round in level par.
“The way the flags are set up, the golf course is so easy,” observed the world No 4. “Most of them are in the centre of the green, so you can be aggressive. It’s just a case of trying to keep pushing and going as low as you can.”
Fitzpatrick sits six back along with the defending champion, Bob MacIntyre. “You never know,” replied the Englishman to being asked about his chances of winning. “Tomorrow the weather is to be up and down. So, if you throw in a low one, you never know. I’ve had an enjoyable three days so far with my dad (in the team event).”
David Law and his amateur partner Will Ahmed share the lead in it on 31 under along with Meronk and Tom Chaplin, the lead singer with Keane.
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