KATHMANDU, May 14: Jayaram Shrestha took the lead in the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2018-19 on the ninth and final event after the opening round of the Surya Nepal Premier Golf Championship in Kathmandu on Monday.
Shrestha carded four-under 68 to take one-stroke lead over amateur Subash Tamang who shot a round of three-under 69. Both were followed by Surya Prasad Sharma, Krishna Man Rajwahak and Chuda Bahadur Bhandari scoring two-under 70 each. Similarly, Rame Magar, Bikash Adhikari and amateur Tanka Bahadur Karki scored one-under 71 each.
Shrestha started the day by making pars on the first two holes and sank eagle on the third hole, he dropped a shot on the fourth hole and made birdies on fifth, seventh and ninth holes for four-under 32. On the back nine, he made bogey on the 16th hole and sank a birdie on the 18th hole for even-par 36.
Jayram takes lead on opening day
Tamang had a bogey free round on the day. He scored two-under 34 on the front nine with birdies on third and seventh holes. On the back nine, he made a sole birdie on the 12th hole for a one-under 35.
For the combined third-place, Sharma scored two-over 38 on the front nine after making birdie on the opening hole, then suffered a double-bogey on the second and further bogey on the ninth hole. On the back nine, he made birdies on 13th, 15th, 16th and 17th holes for four-under 32.
Bhandari scored even-par 36 on the front nine with birdie on seventh against bogey on the first hole. On the back nine, he made birdies on 12th and 17th holes for two-under 34.
And Rajwahak scored two-under 34 on the front nine with birdies on sixth and eighth holes. On the back nine he made par on all holes for even-par 36.
For the combined sixth-place finish on day one, Magar scored two-over 38 on the first half with bogeys on fourth and eighth holes. On the back nine, he made birdies on 12th, 14th and 17th holes for three-under 33.
Adhikari made birdies on second, third, fifth but dropped shots on seventh and eighth holes for one-under 35. On the back nine, he scored even-par 36 after making bogey on 14thagainst birdie on 15th hole.
Amateur Karki scored even-par 36 on the front nine with birdie on the third hole against bogey on the fifth. On the back nine, he made a sole birdie on 15th hole for one-under 35.
A total of 40 professional golfers and 20 amateurs are taking part in the tournament. The winner of the event will bag Rs 230,000 and the runner-up will earn Rs 140,000 whereas the third-placed golfer will bag Rs 95,000.
