Saturday, October 3: Jarvis leads by two before the Old Course final
Casey Jarvis extended his Alfred Dunhill Links Championship lead to two strokes Saturday with a bogey-free seven-under 65 at the Old Course. He reached 18 under through three rounds, ahead of Matthew Jordan and Adrian Meronk at 16 under, and will return to St Andrews for Sunday’s final round.
Jarvis’ first shot at a scoring opportunity became the round’s defining moment. Starting on the par-four 10th, he holed his approach for an eagle. The shot spun back into the cup, giving the South African an immediate two-under start before he added five birdies across the rest of the round.
The early scoring was especially sharp. After the eagle, Jarvis hit his tee shot at the par-three 11th to about four feet. By the time he two-putted for birdie at the 14th, he was five under through his opening five holes. The Associated Press reported that none of his birdie putts was longer than six feet, reflecting how close his approach play kept putting him to the flags.
He began Saturday with a one-shot advantage after rounds of 66 at Carnoustie and 67 at Kingsbarns. The 65 improved both his daily score and his position entering the final round, but it left two pursuers close enough to make Sunday a contest rather than a procession.
Meronk made the biggest move among that pair, shooting nine-under 63 at Kingsbarns. He opened with four straight birdies and added an eagle later in the round. Jordan also played Kingsbarns, finishing with a 66 to join Meronk two behind Jarvis.
Thomas Detry is fourth at 15 under after a 65 at St Andrews. Jacob Skov Olesen and Niklas Norgaard stand another shot back, while Sepp Straka’s 64 on the Old Course moved him to 13 under. Those scores leave several players within one strong round of the lead even though Jarvis has remained ahead.
Matt Fitzpatrick and defending champion Robert MacIntyre are among the players at 12 under, six shots behind. Fitzpatrick shot 66 after birdieing six of his first seven holes, while MacIntyre finished with 68. Their deficits require them to gain ground quickly on Sunday, rather than simply wait for a mistake from the leader.
The final round concentrates the tournament at the Old Course after three days across St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns. Jarvis is seeking his third DP World Tour victory of the season after winning the Kenya Open and South African Open. His Saturday round gives him control of the starting position; Jordan and Meronk ensure he has close company for the finish.
Friday report retained below
Casey Jarvis birdied his final hole at Kingsbarns on Friday to take a one-shot lead after two rounds of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. His five-under 67 moved him to 11 under, ahead of Matthew Jordan, MJ Daffue and Rocco Repetto Taylor at 10 under.
Michael Stewart, who shared Thursday's lead after his quick trip from a Tartan Pro Tour event, followed his opening 65 with a 71 at Kingsbarns. He is tied for ninth at eight under alongside Brooks Koepka and defending champion Robert MacIntyre, among others. Jack Buchanan, Thursday's other co-leader, shot 72 and is tied for 17th at seven under.
The tournament's Friday report and completed professional leaderboard confirm the change at the top. Jarvis's round included seven birdies; the DP World Tour's Friday post captured his 31 on his opening nine at Kingsbarns.
Jordan's 65 at Carnoustie and Repetto Taylor's 64 at Kingsbarns supplied two of the strongest rounds among the chasing players. Daffue shot 68. MacIntyre's 65 and Koepka's 67 leave both three shots behind entering Saturday.
Sky Sports and GolfToday independently reported Jarvis's sole lead and the three players one stroke behind. The tournament still has Saturday's rotation through its three courses before the final round at the Old Course. Stewart remains within three shots after surrendering his share of the lead.
Earlier reporting: Stewart's opening round, October 1
Michael Stewart finished second in a Scottish development-tour event Wednesday, drove to St Andrews and shot 65 at Carnoustie on Thursday. The seven-under round gave him a share of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship’s opening-round lead with Australia’s Jack Buchanan, who matched the score at Kingsbarns.
Stewart, 36, received his tournament invitation Monday while still competing in the Tartan Pro Tour’s Duddingston Classic. He kept playing there through Wednesday instead of taking a practice round at the Dunhill. The DP World Tour reported that a third Tartan victory this season would have secured his promotion back to the HotelPlanner Tour.
The tour’s Thursday post records the change in his week: runner-up at Duddingston, then a 65 at Carnoustie.
