DHARAN, Dec 20: Nepal number one pro Shiva Ram Shrestha took sole lead after the second round of the Surya Nepal Eastern Open at the Nirvana Country Club in Dharan on Tuesday. He carded one-over 71 to take four-stroke lead over Sanjay Lama at two-under 138. 

Sanjay, the joint overnight leader, carded five-over 75 for a total of two-over 142. Rabi Khadka, Bhuwan Nagarkoti, and Dhana Bahadur Thapa are jointly in third place with three-over 143. Rabi carded even-par 70, Dhan three-over 73 and Bhuwan wrapped up the day with one-over 71.

Amateur golfers of home town, Shiva Kumar Majhi and Sukra Bahadur Rai are tied at four-over 144.

Shiva carded two-over 72 while Sukra scored one-under 69. Another amateur Tanka Bahadur Karki is behind them with the score of six-over 146. He carded three-under 67 on Tuesday. 

Surya Prasad Sharma and amateur Tanka Bahadur Karki are jointly in eighth place with score of six-over 146. Surya carded one-over 71 and Tanka scored three-under 67.

Shiva Ram, the joint leader of the opening day, carded one-over 36 and even-par 35 on the front and back nine holes respectively. He achieved a lone birdie on the par-five third against bogeys on the first and seventh holes. After taking the turn, he made birdies on the 13th, 14th, and 18th holes while he dropped shot on the 11th hole and double-bogey on par-three 17th hole.

Overnight joint leader Sanjay played a disastrous four-over 39 on the first nine which included bogey on the fifth and triple bogey on par-four ninth hole. The back nine saw even-par on all except a bogey on the 14th hole for one-over 36.

Rabi, one of the three golfers tied at third position, carded two-over 37 with help of birdies on the first and ninth holes against bogeys on the second, third, fourth and eighth holes. After taking the turn, he carded birdies on the 10th, 12th, 14th and 16th holes but dropped shots on 13th and 15th holes for two-under 33.

Dhana carded one-over 36 and two-over 37 on the first and later half holes. On the first nine, he earned sole birdie on the sixth hole and drop shots on the fourth and ninth holes. On the back nine, he scored birdie on the 12th hole and suffered bogey on the 15th and double-bogey on the 18th hole. 

Bhuwan carded one-under 34 on the front nine and two-over 37 on the back nine. He scored birdies on the second and ninth holes in front nine against bogeys on the first and ninth holes. On the back nine, he scored two-over 37 with sole birdie on the 14th hole against bogeys on the 11th, 15th and 17th holes.

Altogether 27 players survived the cut including six amateurs. They will play in the final round of 18 holes on Wednesday. The event featured a total of 56 golfers including 31 pros and 25 amateurs.

The top three pros will receive Rs 110,000, Rs 70,000 and Rs 50,000 respectively.

 
• shiva ram shrestha
 
• surya nepal eastern open
 
• nirvana country club