Shahi´s first day card of six-under 66 helped him to remain on the top of the leader-board with a total of three-under 141. [break]
Sanjay Lama, who played two-over 74 on Monday, carded one-under 71 on Tuesday for a total of one-over 145.
Shahi carded one-under 35 on the front nine but played a four-over 40 on the back nine. His front nine included birdies on the third and ninth hole against a bogey on the eighth hole. On the back nine, Shahi hit back-to-back bogeys on the 10th and 11th holes before suffering two more on the 16th and 17th holes.
Lama played even-par 36 on the front nine and carded one-under 35 on the last nine holes. He had three birdies on the third, sixth and seventh hole against as many bogeys on the second, fourth and eighth holes. On the back nine, he carded birdies on the 13th and 18th holes against a bogey on the 16th hole.
Ramesh Adhikari and Deepak Neupane shared the third position at two-over 146, while Nepal No 1 and defending champion Shiva Ram Shrestha carded one-under 71 to climb up to fifth place. Shrestha shared the 20th position after the first day score of six-over 78.
Surya Sharma and Ram Thapa shared the sixth position at 150. Rabi Khadka and Umesh Nagarkoti were tied for eighth with the score of 151.
Other pros who survived the cut for the final two rounds were Rajan Thapa, Deepak Thapa Magar, CB Bhandari, Ram Krishna Shrestha, Purna Sharma, Dhruba KC, Yelamber Singh Adhikari, Ramesh Nagarkoti, Suman Rai, Tham Bahadur Rai and Deepak Acharya. Dharan pro Mani Rai and Army pro Dhana Thapa were disqualified for taking wrong drops, while RNGC pro Jaya Ram Shrestha missed the tee-off time.
In Amateur section, Tashi Tsering shot six-over 78 for a total of nine-over 151 to take one-shot lead over Bhuwan Gurung. Gurung carded three-over 75 to add to his overnight score of five-over 77.
Wangchen Dhondup is third at 12-over 156 and Sanjay Lama fourth with the score of 14-over 158. Other amateurs who qualified for the last two rounds included Ramesh Gurung, Mithun Rai, Charlie Gurung, Jeevan Rai and Ashish Pariyar. Ashish had a Hole-in-One on the par-3 16th hole.
The top six amateurs will earn berths for the Surya Nepal Masters scheduled at Gokarna Golf Club from March 13-17.
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