KATHMANDU, March 5: Shivaram Shrestha has won the Pilot Golfers NPGA Classic, the fourth event under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2019-20, at the par-68 Royal Nepal Golf Club in Kathmandu on Wednesday.

Shrestha carded three-under 65 for the 54-hole total score of 12-under 196. 

He registered a three-stroke victory over Sukra Bahadur Rai, who also played three-under 65 on the final day.

Shrestha claimed the second title of the season for his 46th career trophy. With the title, he received a cash prize of Rs 90,000. 

Sukra earned Rs 60,000. Bal Bhadra Rai was third at five-under 203 after he carded 65 and he earned Rs 45,000.

Nepal’s number 1 professional golfer, Bhuwan Nagarkoti and Dinesh Prajapati shared the fourth position at four-under 204 and they received Rs 33,000 each. Both pros carded one-under 67. 

Rabi Khadka and Rame Magar shared the eighth position at 206 after both pros played even-par 68. They earned Rs 23,500 each.

Jayaram Shrestha and Sanjay Lama shared the eighth position at one-under 207 and they earned Rs 19,000 each. 

They played two-under 66 each on the final day. Bhuwan Kumar Rokka finished 10th at even-par 208 after he produced the best card of the round at five-under 63 and he earned Rs 16,000.

Amateur golfer Subash Tamang was overall third at seven-under 201 and he claimed the amateur section title. 

The 13th South Asian Games double gold medal winner Subash carded three-under 65 on the final day. 

Jitendra Rai was a distant second at 233.

Winner Shrestha carded one-under 33 on the front nine and played two-under 32 on the back nine. 

He carded a birdie on the second hole before taking the turn. On the back nine, Shrestha carded a birdie on the 11th and sank an eagle on the 13th hole. 

He faced the lone bogey of the day on the final hole.

Sukra Bahadur Rai carded two-under 32 on the front nine and played one-under 33 on the back nine. 

He faced a bogey on the first hole before carding birdies on the second, sixth and seventh holes. 

After the turn, Sukra Bahadur Rai carded birdies on the 11th, 13th and 15th holes against bogeys on the 12th and 14th holes.

A total of 45 golfers – 37 pros and eight amateurs – took part in the 54-hole tournament which carried a cash purse of Rs 500,000. 

The tournament is a tribute to the first Nepali commercial pilot, late Badri K. Shrestha.

 
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