South Africa's Jarvis bags maiden Magical Kenya Open title

South Africa’s Casey Jarvis shot a final round 8-under 62 to clinch his first Magical Kenya Open title at Karen Golf Club in Nairobi on Sunday, securing a share of the Sh1.6 billion prize purse.

The 22-year-old carded two eagles on holes 12 and 18, along with six birdies, to claim his maiden DP World Tour victory. Despite two weather delays at the par-70 course, he finished three strokes ahead of American Davis Bryant, posting a total of 255 compared to Bryant’s 258 over four rounds.

Representing State Mines Golf Club, Jarvis shared the lead with a different opponent in each round before sealing victory and receiving the trophy from Kenyan President William Ruto. He tied for the opening round lead with Sweden’s Niklas Lemke after both shot 8-under 62.

In the second round, Frenchman Frederic Lacroix’s 62 saw him draw level with Jarvis at 135. After the third round, Jarvis was again tied at the top, this time with Spain’s Angel Ayora, who recorded a 6-under 64.

President William Ruto presents a trophy to South African Casey Jarvis after he won the Magical Kenya Open at Karen. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

Ayora, representing La Hacienda Golf Resort, produced a bogey-free round with six birdies, matching his opening round score and improving by one stroke on his second round 65. This ensured Jarvis had a different co-leader in each of the first three rounds.

However, Jarvis delivered when it mattered most. His closing 62 was only matched by Englishman Matthew Jordan, who finished seventh. Lightning threats and weather interruptions failed to halt his charge as he secured his breakthrough victory in front of his father and girlfriend.

"It's amazing, I've actually never won in front of my dad before. I've wanted to win in front of him so badly, and to finally do it when he's here, I can't explain to you the emotions,” Jarvis said.

"I also wish my mum were here, but she's back home in the UK. "But it's unbelievable, he's been with me through the ups, through the downs. I know this moment doesn't happen often, so we're going to celebrate it properly tonight." “I just tried to stay in the moment, play one shot at a time, and yeah, it seems to have worked pretty well.”

Jarvis recorded three birdies and a bogey in his opening four holes before adding another at the sixth to remain one shot ahead of compatriot Hennie Du Plessis at the turn. Ranked 195th in the world, he eventually made the decisive move to claim his first DP World Tour title in front of a jubilant crowd at Karen Country Club.

President William Ruto shakes hands with Njoroge Kibugu after the Magical Kenya Open. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

Bryant finished second on 22-under, while Du Plessis took third after closing with a tap-in eagle on the 18th. Francesco Laporta ended fourth, as Nathan Kimsey and Jacob Sko Olesen shared fifth place.

Bryant, Du Plessis, Laporta, Kimsey and Olesen earned sh1.06b, sh600m, sh483m and sh410m respectively.

Kenyan Njoroge Kibugu impressed the home crowd with a bogey-free final round of 5-under 65 to finish at six-under overall in 61st place, earning sh25m. He also received a combined token of sh194m from sponsors Absa-Kenya and the Kenyan government, amounting to Ksh2m and Ksh5m respectively.

The 22-year-old had earlier thrilled spectators by dramatically making the cut. An opening round 4-under 66 laid a solid foundation, and after birdieing the seventh hole on Friday to move to five-under, he appeared comfortably inside the cut line. He secured his place for the weekend with an eagle on the 18th, finishing as the only East African player to make the cut and enter the prize bracket.