Rabi takes lead on Day I

KATHMANDU, Dec 29: Rabi Khadka registered two-over par 72 to lead the first day of the Surya Nepal Eastern Open Golf Tour being held on the Nirvana Country Club Health and Golf Resort, Dharan on Tuesday. [break]



Rabi took a one-stroke lead over local pro golfer Deo Raj Pakhrin and top player Shiva Ram Shrestha on day one.



Royal Nepal Golf Club´s amateur Ramesh Adhikari finished the day in fourth with the score of three-over 73. At four-over 74, defending champion Deepak Thapa Magar, Pashupati Sharma and Tham Bahadur Rai are joint fifth. Sanjay Lama and Sabin Sapkota are joint eighth with five-over 75, ahead of Dhana Thapa, Deepak Neupane, Rajan Thapa and Krishna Hari Mizar, who all carded six over par 76. Deepak Acharya, Ram Thapa and Krishna Man Rajbahak are further one shot behind in joint 14th position with seven-over 77.



Rabi, the winner of the last two events under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2009-10, started the day with a bogey. He registered four birdies and two bogeys on the front nine to take a turn at two-under 33. In the back nine, Khadka had a lone birdie on the 17th hole before firing a double bogey on the last hole. He also shot bogeys on the 12th and 14th holes.



RNGC´s amateur Ramesh Adhikari is on top among the amateurs with three-over par 73, while Army amateur Bhuwan Pudasaini was far-away in second position with the score of nine-over par 79. Rajesh Rai, who finished the day with the score of 11-over par 81, was third.



A total of 24 pros and 18 amateurs are taking part in the three-day event organized by Nepal Professional Golfers´ Association under the sponsorship of Surya Nepal Pvt Ltd.

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