KATHMANDU, Sept 14: Sukra Bahadur Rai of Nepal took sole lead in overall event after the second round of the Faldo Series Nepal Championship as he carded five-under 67 on Wednesday at the par-72 Gokarna Golf Club in Kathmandu.
Sukra, who featured in boys' 17 to 21 years age category, had carded four-over 76 on the first day and stands atop the leader board with a total of one-under 143. He holds 10-stroke lead over Raju Diwakar who finished the second day with even-par 72 for a total of nine-over 153.
Yubraj Bhujel carded seven-over 79 for a total of 14-over 158. Tejendra Thapa Magar shot eight-over 80 on Wednesday for a total of 15-over 159 in the penultimate round.
In the boys' 12 to 16 years age category, India's Aryaan Kumar scored three-over 75 for a total of seven-over 151 to lead the category. Aryaan is seven stroke ahead of Tenzing Tshiring, who carded 10-over 82 for a total of 14-over 158. Luca Guidi of Italy carded 13-over 85 for a total of 20-over 164.
In the girls' open age category of 12 to 21 years, Indian Sifat Kaur Alag carded eight-over 80 Wednesday for a total of 15-over 159. Sifat holds a distant 15-stroke lead over Pratima Sherpa going into the final round. Pratima carded 13-over 85 for a total of 30-over 174.
With birdies on third, fourth, sixth and ninth holes, Sukra carded four-under 32 on the front nine and finished the back nine with one-under 35. He won birdies on 10thand 12th holes but dropped shot on 16th hole.
Aryaan scored even-par 36 on the first half as he sank eagle on the third hole and a birdie on the ninth holes against bogeys on second, sixth and seventh. On the second half, he birdied on the 12th and 18th holes against bogeys on 11th, 15th, 17th and double-bogey on 16th holes for three-over 39.
The winner of each category in the 54-hole event will book ticket for the 11th Faldo Series Asia Grand Final, to be held at Laguna Lng Co in Danang, Vietnam, in March 2017.
Altogether 25 golfers are competing in the event.
Currently 40 Faldo Series tournaments take place in more than 30 countries with participation of more than 7,000 golfers.
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