KATHMANDU, Nov 7: Nepal’s number one golfer Shiva Ram Shrestha took the lead after the first round of the Surya Nepal Central Open, the second event under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2017/18, at Gokarna Golf Club on Monday.
Shrestha carded six-under 66 to stay at the top of the leader-board.
He is three-strokes ahead of Surya Prasad Sharma, who carded a round of three-under 69.
Deepak Magar, who opened with one-under 71, stands third after the opening day. Yelamber Sing Adhikari and Rame Magar are joint fourth at even-par 72. Rabi Khadka turned in a card of one-over 73 to be in the sixth place.
Deepak Acharya, Bhuwan Nagarkoti, Pashupati Sharma, Jayaram Shrestha, Shivaram Poudel and amateur Sunil KC are tied seventh at two-over 74.
Shiva Ram wins Surya Nepal Central Open
Leader Shiva Ram carded five-under 31 on the front nine with birdies on second, fourth, fifth, seventh and ninth holes. On the back nine, he carded sole birdie on the tenth hole for one-under 35.
Surya had a bad start with bogeys on the first two holes but recovered birdies on fifth and sixth holes for even-par 36. On the back nine he scored three-under 33 with help of birdies on 11th, 12th and 15th holes.
Magar carded even-par 36 on the front side. He made bogey on the starting hole, but recovered with birdie on the eighth hole. On the back nine, he scored one-under 35 with birdies on 12th and 17th holes against a bogey on the 14th hole.
On the amateur front, Phuntsok N. Lama is five-over 77 and three-strokes behind leader KC. Bipin Tamang is at six -over 78.
A total of 32 professional golfers and 10 amateurs are taking part in the tournament that has a total prize money of Rs 630,000.
The champion will take home Rs 115,000 whereas the runner-up will be rewarded with Rs 74,000. The golfer coming to the third position will get Rs 53,000.
Top 21 places and ties will earn prize money.
