Two strokes adrift was Umesh Nagarkoti, who shot even-par 67, while Rabi Khadka and Sanjay Lama shared the third spot at 68. Ram Thapa was in the fifth position with a score of 69, whereas defending champion Ramesh Nagarkoti carded three-over 70 for the sixth spot.[break]
Mani Rai, Deepak Neupane, CB Bhandari, Surya Sharma and Yalamber Adhikari were joint seventh at four-over 71. Ramesh Adhikari and Dhana Thapa were 12th at six-over 73.
Former No 1 Shrestha started the day with a bogey on the first hole but came back strongly to finish the front nine at one-under 32. He had another bogey on the fifth hole against three birdies on the fourth, sixth and eighth holes on the front nine. The RNGC pro was the only player to play an under-par round on the front nine, and sent warnings with back-to-back birdies on the par-5 10th and par-4 11th holes. The bogey on the par-5 13th hole saw him finish the back nine at one-under 33.
“The day was average. I didn´t have many ups and downs in the first round,” said Shrestha.
Altogether 44 players - 25 pros and 19 amateurs - are taking part in the 54-hole event, sponsored by Nepal Professional Golfers´ Association (NPGA) President Rabindra Man Shrestha.
The winner of the third event under the Surya Nepal Tour 2010 will get Rs 44,000 while the runner-up and the second runner-up will receive Rs 29,000 and Rs 21,000, respectively. The top 18 pros, who will survive the cut after the second round, are assured of their share of cash prizes.
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