DHARAN, Dec 22: Nepal number one pro Shiva Ram Shrestha claimed the title of Surya Nepal Eastern Open 2016 on Tuesday with a total score of four-under 206 at the par-70 Nirvana County Club in Dharan, Sunsari.
Shiva Ram maintained his lead from the opening day to the third and final day for a seven stroke win over Rabi Khadka who finished with three-over 213. Shiva Ram carded two-under 68 and Rabi played even-par on the final day.
Sanjay Lama carded four-over 74 to finish third with six-over 216. Sanjay, however, stood three-stroke behind the amateur winner Sukra Bahadur Rai of Dharan who wrapped up with final score of three-over 213.
Winner Shiva Ram received purse of Rs 110,000 while runner up Rabi received Rs 70,000. Similarly, Sanjay walked home with purse of Rs 50,000.
Shiva Kumar Majhi and Tanka Bahadur Karki were second and third place finishers in amateur section with seven-over 217 and eight-over 218 respectively. Shiva carded three-over 73 and Tanka two-over 72.
Bal Bhadra Rai stood fourth with 218 after he carded one-over 71 on the final day. He had share of Rs 40,000 for his feat. Dhan Bahadur Thapa and Bhuwan Nagarkoti were tied fifth with the score of 219. Both of them finished the day with identical score of six over 76 and rewarded with equal amount of Rs 32,500.
Winner Shiva Ram carded two-under 33 in the first half with birdies in the second and sixth holes.
After taking the turn he finished with even-par 35. He earned birdies from the 10th to 12th holes against bogeys on the 13th, 17th and 18th holes. Rabi carded one-over 36 in the front nine after he dropped shot on par-three fifth hole. In the back nine, he birdied on the 14th and 16th holes against a lone bogey on the 10th hole for one-under 34.
Amateur winner Sukra was the most successful golfer in the front nine with four-under 31. He earned birdies on the third, eighth and ninth holes and even sank eagle on par-five sixth hole. He, dropped a shot on par-four following hole.
Sanjay, the joint leader of the opening day, carded identical two-over 37 on either halves. He dropped shot on the second, fourth, fifth and eighth holes against bogeys on third and sixth holes. On the later half, he made a lone birdie on the 12th hole against bogeys on the 11th, 15th and 17th holes.
Altogether 27 players including six amateurs had survived the cuts for the final round among 56 golfers in total. All 21 pros who made the cut had share in the cash prize in the first event under Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2016/17.
Shiva Ram wins Surya Nepal Central Open
