MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Martin Vorster of Mossel Bay fired a closing 69 on Friday, 6 January, to complete a wire-to-wire victory over Casey Jarvis from Ekurhuleni in the Golf RSA Nomads South African Boys Under-15 Championship.
The 14-year-old Louis Oosthuizen Junior Academy member of Mossel Bay was in imperious form over all three days at the Koro Creek Bushveld Golf Estate in Limpopo Province. He shot 67 in the wind-swept first round and added a 66 on day two en route to posting an impressive winning total of 14-under-par 202.
Vorster defeated reigning SA Boys U15 Challenge champion Jarvis by one stroke to capture his first on the national junior circuit. The Pinnacle Point golfer impressed with a top 10 finish in the Nomads SA Boys U19 and a fourth place finish in the Nomads SA Boys U17 championships last year.
Needless to say, he was extremely pleased with the winning display.
"I am so pleased that I pulled this through," said the beaming youngster. "Casey won the Boys 11-13 Division at the IMG Junior World Florida Challenge in December and he arrived here in red-hot form. He chased me hard from day one and he stayed in the fight and never let up in the final round. He made me work hard and that pushed me to produce my best golf ever."
Vorster towers at 1.85 metres tall in his socks and his booming drives fly the 300-metre mark, while the one and a half metre short Jarvis averages at around 230 metres off the tee. Not surprisingly, the spectators were primed for the David and Goliath battle on the final day and the pair did not disappoint.
"I have the advantage off the tee and Casey has great all-round skills and he never stops fighting, so I knew I was in for a long and tough day," Vorster said.
Vorster birdied the first and fired a trio of birdies after a bogey at the third to move three shots clear of Jarvis, who chipped in for his first gain at the par four sixth.
He dropped another shot at the 10th when he short-sided himself after leaving a seven-iron approach shot short and Jarvis cut his advantage to a lone shot with a birdie at 13.
"At 14 I pulled my tee shot and finished about 10 metres off the fairway," said Vorster.
"I left my six-iron in 20 metres short of the green, but I chipped to two feet and holed the putt for birdie to widen the gap again.
"With a two-shot cushion, I stayed cautious over the closing holes, kept the ball in play and made sure I hit fairways and greens.
I had a two shot lead going down 18, but like I said, Casey never gives up."
Vorster laid up to 85 metres and parked his approach seven metres short of the pin. He lagged his first putt to hole a one and a half feet and holed the putt for par, but Jarvis went one better and boxed his birdie effort to sign off with a flawless 69. "In the end, there was just one shot in it every day and it was a fantastic contest," Vorster said.
"I am happy and delighted at the same time and excited about the season ahead. It was fantastic to
play with Casey and I just want to remind him that he still has one more year to add this championship to his tally, so keep working hard Casey."
Final Result (top 20)
202 Martin Vorster 67 66 69
203 Casey Jarvis 68 66 69
215 Liam van Deventer 72 74 69
217 Kieron van Wyk 72 72 73
220 Luka Stanisavljevic 72 75 73
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