Thapa, who had carded five-over 72 and even-par 67 respectively on the first two days, has a total score of six-over 207 and a one-stroke lead over fellow pro Umesh Nagarkoti and Mani Rai, the pro golfer from Dharan.[break]
Nagarkoti submitted a card of one-over 68 on Thursday for a total of seven-over 208. Rai produced the best card of the day and completed the round on one-under 66 and shared the second position with Nagarkoti on the overall leader board.
Overnight leader Dinesh Prajapati played a horrible round of golf on Thursday and shot six-over 73 to falter to the fourth position with a total score of eight-over 209.
Pro golfers Jaya Ram Shrestha and Deepak Thapa Magar carded four-over 71 on Thursday and shared the fifth position with a total of nine-over 210.
In the amateur section, Bishnu Sharma and Sunil KC shared the second position with a total of 18-over 219 ahead of the final round on Friday.
Leader Thapa took a turn with two-over 35 but finished the back nine with one-under 33 on Thursday. Thapa carded birdies on the fourth, 12th and 13th holes against bogeys on the first, third, fifth and 18th holes. He saved par on the rest of the holes.
Likewise, Nagarkoti carded a single birdie on the front nine on the fifth hole against bogeys on the second and sixth as well as a double bogey on the third hole to finish the front nine with three-over 36. He carded birdies on the 10th and 13th holes to complete the back nine with two-under 32.
While producing the best card of the day, Rai completed the front nine with three-under 30 and faltered to two-over 36 on the back nine. He shot an eagle on the fourth hole and birdies on the second and seventh holes against a bogey on the first hole on the front nine. On the back nine, he suffered a bogey on the 12th hole and a double bogey on the 16th hole but completed the day with a score of under-par as he shot birdies on the 18th hole.
The professional winner of the tournament will get a check of Rs 60,000 while the runner-up will take home Rs 40,000. Others professionals in the top 20 will also receive their share of cash prizes.
Shrestha misses cut
Nepal No 1 pro golfer Shiva Ram Shrestha played a horrible round of golf on Thursday and missed the cut in the PGTI Players Championship being held at the Poona Club Golf Course, India.
Shrestha, who carded one-over 72 and remained in the 37th position on Wednesday, shot seven-over 78 on Thursday and slipped to the 81st position and missed the cut applied up to top 50.
Indian golfer Rajiv Niranjan Datar has taken sole lead after the second round with a total of eight-under 134.
Related story
Prajapati elected Bhaktapur mayor
