KATHMANDU, April 5: Bhuwan Nagarkoti maintained the lead after the second day of the Surya Nepal Kathmandu Open, the eighth event under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour of the season, at the par-68 Royal Nepal Golf Club on Wednesday.

Gokarna Golf Club pro Bhuwan carded even-par 68 to post the 36-hole total of three-under 133. He is one stroke ahead of Bikash Adhikari, who fired two-under 66 for the total score of 134.

Jayaram Shrestha is third at even-par 136 after he played one-under 67. Rabi Khadka (67) and Shiva Ram Shrestha (69) shared the fourth position at one-over 137.

The play on the second day was halted for about an hour due to rain midway through the match.
Defending champion Rame Magar shared the sixth position at six-over 142 with Surya Prasad Sharma and Dhana Bahadur Thapa. Magar faltered to eight-over 76, while Thapa played four-over 72 and Sharma shot a 71. Bhuwan Kumar Rokka was 10th at 143 after he played a round of 76.

A total of 21 pros made the cut which was applied at 15-over 151. Ramesh Nagarkoti, Pradeep Kumar Lama, Yelamber Singh Adhikari, Basanta Raj Gurung, Pashupati Sharma, Dhruba KC, Bishnu KC, Gopal Nagarkoti, Rajendra Shrestha Pradhan, Ram Krishna Shrestha and CB Bhandari made it to the final two rounds.

In amateur section, Tanka Bahadur Karki maintained his lead despite faltering to seven-over 75. Karki posted a total score of eight-over 144 to take a three-stroke lead over Subash Ghising, who played a round of five-over 73. Sunil KC (75) is third at 148. Surendra Phuyal, Binod Tamang and Sandeep Tamang also made the cut in amateur section.

A total of 33 professionals and 13 amateurs are taking part in the event organized by the Nepal PGA under the sponsorship of Surya Nepal Pvt Ltd. 

The event carries a purse of Rs 525,000 and the winner will bag Rs 90,000, the runner up will take home Rs 61,000 and the third-placed pro will be rewarded with Rs 47,000. 

 
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