Casey chasing Old Course glory at Alfred Dunhill Links Championship

A year in which Casey Jarvis made his DP World Tour breakthrough and played in his first Masters and Open could become even more memorable, with the young South African chasing an Alfred Dunhill Links Championship title on the most historic course in the game.

Jarvis, always a bundle of energy on a golf course, bounded around the humps and hollows of the famous Old Course on Saturday as he signed for a 65 to open up a two-stroke lead on 18 under par.

It was a wonderfully composed display of pure links golf from a golfer who has grown in stature following back-to-back DP World Tour victories at the beginning of the year and then his tied sixth in The Open.

And it wouldn’t be a stretch to suggest that it would be a true golf coming of age were he to lift this trophy on the hallowed fairways of the Old Course on Sunday.

“It’s a dream to be leading a tournament going into a Sunday on the Old Course,” said Jarvis.

“I’m just looking forward to walking these fairways on Sunday in the lead. I think whatever happens, I’m just going to give it my all and have fun.”

He certainly looked to be having fun from the opening hole on Saturday as he holed out with his second on the par-four 10th to start with an eagle. From there he made three birdies in his next four holes, and then added two more birdies on his second nine.

But the true sign of how much he has matured into a world-class golfer was the way he managed a very tricky wind that had the potential to be his undoing.

“I just felt like I was in total control today. I normally struggle with the left to right wind off the tee and I managed it really well, and was really solid tee to green. And then luckily I rolled in a couple of good putts, so I’m very pleased,” he said.

In a year of memorable moments for Jarvis, he now has the chance to achieve something else on Sunday in becoming only the second South African to win this prestigious championship on its 25th anniversary and following Branden Grace in 2012.

“It would be unbelievable to join a player like Branden as a winner of this tournament, but whatever happens happens. I’m just going to try and have a good night and then come out and give it my all on the final day. We all feel pressure leading a final round and I know the pressure will be there – it’s just about managing it. I know that winning earlier this year though will definitely help me.”