KATHMANDU, Dec 27: Shiva Ram Shrestha has won the Surya Nepal Central Open, the season opening event of the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2019-20 at the Gokarna Golf Club on Thursday.

Shrestha carded four-under 68 for the 72-hole total score of 14-under 274 to register 15-shot victory over Sukra Bahadur Rai. The newly-turned pro Rai carded two-under 70 for the total score of one-over 289. 

Shrestha claimed his 45th career title and received Rs 125,000. Rai earned Rs 80,000 in his first event as a professional golfer.

Rabi Khadka finished third at three-over 291 after he played five-over 77 in the final round, while Dhana Bahadur Thapa was fourth at 294 after he played one-over 73. Khadka earned Rs 58,000, while Thapa received Rs 47,000.

Nepal No 1 pro Bhuwan Nagarkoti played five-over 77 to finish fifth with the total score of eight-over 296. Bhuwan earned Rs 40,000. Rame Magar came sixth at 297 after he played seven-over 79 and he got Rs 36,000. Veteran pro Deepak Thapa Magar (78) came seventh at 298 and he earned Rs 33,000. Sanjay Lama finished eight at 299 after he played seven-over 79 and he received Rs 30,000. Newly-turned pros Tanka Bahadur Karki (81) and Bipin Tamang (75) shared the ninth position with Jayaram Shrestha (77) at 15-over 303. They got a bag of Rs 26,167 each.

Shrestha began the day with eight stroke advantage and he carded three-under 33 on the front nine before carding one-under 35 on the back nine. He carded three straight birdies from the first hole and added another on the sixth hole before facing a bogey on the eighth. On the back nine, he carded birdies on the 11th, 12th and 17th holes against bogeys on the 14th and 15th holes.

Rai carded two-under 34 on the front nine and played even-par 36 on the back nine. He faced a bogey on the fourth hole and carded birdies on the fifth, seventh and ninth holes. After taking the turn, he dropped a shot on the 10th hole and carded a birdie on the 17th hole.

Khadka played three-over 39 on the front nine and shot two-over 38 on the back nine. His round included five bogeys on the fifth, eighth, 14th, 15th and 17th holes and a double bogey on the sixth hole against birdies on the third and 12th holes.

The 13th South Asian Games double gold medalist Subash Tamang won the amateur section title with the total score of 14-over 302 after he faltered to nine-over 81 in the final round. Ritesh Tamang came second at 310 after he played 12-over 84.

A total of 47 golfers – record 43 pros and four amateurs -- took part in the event organized by Nepal Professional Golfers Association under the sponsorship of Surya Nepal Pvt Ltd. Brand Manager of Surya Nepal Pvt Ltd, Keshav Pradhan and Advisor of Nepal PGA Ghana Shyam Thapa handed over the prizes to the winners

 
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