Jake - Par and Paddock
INVESTEC SOUTH AFRICAN OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP (FINAL) — TOP 10
Pos Player Score Total
--- ----------------------- ----- -----
1 Casey Jarvis -14 266
T2 Frederic LaCroix -11 269
T2 Hennie Du Plessis -11 269
T2 Francesco Laporta -11 269
5 Eddie Pepperell -10 270
T6 Adrian Otaegui -8 272
T6 Daniel van Tonder -8 272
T6 Haydn Porteous -8 272
T9 Wilco Nienaber -7 273
T9 Ewen Ferguson -7 273Review: Casey Jarvis Claims Dream Victory at Investec South African Open Championship
Twenty-two-year-old Casey Jarvis produced a stunning performance to claim the 115th Investec South African Open Championship at Stellenbosch Golf Club, securing his second consecutive DP World Tour title in just seven days. The young South African’s closing 67 saw him finish at 14-under par (266), three shots clear of the field, in a victory that earned him invitations to both the 2026 Masters and the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.
A COMMANDING VICTORY
Jarvis’s three-shot triumph over runners-up Hennie du Plessis, Frederic Lacroix, and Francesco Laporta, who all finished at 11-under, showcased remarkable composure from the young champion. Not even a dramatic 35-minute lightning delay on the 18th tee could unsettle Jarvis, who returned to birdie the final hole and seal a memorable victory on home soil.
“I feel on top of the world in this moment,” Jarvis said afterwards. “I just had a slight feeling from the start of the week that something crazy was going to happen and it’s incredible.”
The victory makes Jarvis the third player to claim multiple DP World Tour titles this season, joining Jayden Schaper and Patrick Reed in that exclusive club. More significantly, it propels him onto golf’s biggest stages, with Major championship appearances now secured.
STELLENBOSCH DELIVERS
The par-70 layout at Stellenbosch Golf Club, playing at 7,268 yards, provided exactly the stern examination anticipated in our preview. The tree-lined parkland course demanded precision and patience, with its narrow corridors and strategically placed hazards separating the contenders from the pretenders. The closing stretch, particularly the water-threatened 18th hole, produced the drama expected, with du Plessis rinsing his final approach to bogey and drop into a share of second place, missing out on an Open Championship spot.
Laporta and Lacroix snagged the other two Open qualifying berths due to their higher OWGR rankings. The blow was softened for du Plessis, however, due to a Nexo course record bonus of $100,000.
Weather played its part throughout the week, with the lightning delay adding an extra layer of tension to Sunday’s finale. That Jarvis handled the interruption with such maturity speaks volumes about his mental fortitude.
THE FAVOURITES FALTER
Our preview tipped Patrick Reed (11/1) as the short-priced selection based on his exceptional recent form, but the American failed to deliver, finishing well down the leaderboard. Similarly, medium-priced selection Jayden Schaper (13/1), despite his two wins earlier in the season, couldn’t find the form that made him such an appealing prospect, finishing the week down the field at 3-under.
Interestingly, our outsider selection, Dean Burmester (28/1), showed glimpses of the firepower we anticipated, but a poor weekend meant a tie for 20th at 5-under. The South African contingent performed admirably overall, with du Plessis’s runner-up finish and Daniel van Tonder’s share of sixth place demonstrating the depth of local talent.
JARVIS’S REMARKABLE JOURNEY
For Jarvis, this victory represents the culmination of a remarkable journey. At just 16 years old in 2020, the South African won both the South African Stroke Play Championship and the South African Amateur Championship. Watching compatriot Brandon Stone win this very title in 2016 as a 12-year-old, Jarvis could only dream of emulating that achievement.
Now, a decade later, he’s not only matched Stone’s feat but secured invitations to Augusta National and Royal Birkdale, opportunities that could define his career trajectory. His back-to-back victories demonstrate this is no flash in the pan; Jarvis possesses the game and temperament to compete at the highest level.
LOOKING AHEAD
The significance of this victory extends far beyond the winner’s cheque. Jarvis will tee it up at the Masters in April and the Open Championship in July, experiences that will prove invaluable regardless of results. At 22, with multiple DP World Tour titles already secured, his ceiling appears limitless.
The South African Open has once again produced a home champion, continuing a proud tradition whilst launching another local star onto the global stage. Casey Jarvis’s name now sits alongside the legends who’ve claimed this historic trophy, and his journey is only just beginning. The Cape Winelands witnessed something special this week:
A champion is born.
P&L update
Carryover (after Kenya Open): -£9.62
Investec South African Open (2026) — settled
Patrick Reed 11/1 EW (Top 12, 1/5): T29 — -£2.00
Jayden Schaper 13/1 EW (Top 12, 1/5): T29 — -£2.00
Dean Burmester 28/1 EW (Top 12, 1/5): T20 — -£2.00
Week stake: £6.00
Week return: £0.00
Week P&L: -£6.00
Updated running P&L: -£15.62