Surya Nepal Challenge: Bhuwan Nagarkoti surges to lead going into the final round

KATHMANDU, 21 April: Bhuwan Nagarkoti surges to the top of the leaderboard going into the final round of the Surya Nepal Challenge, the sixth event under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2021-22, at the par-68 Royal Nepal Golf Club on Thursday.

Bhuwan carded a brilliant round of six-under 66 on the third round for a total of 11-under 193 to be one-stroke ahead of Bhuwan Kumar Rokka, who produced a round of two-under 66 for a total of 10-under 194.

Sanjay Lama carded an even-par 68 for a total of eight-under 196. Dinesh Prajapati and Veteran pro Deepak Magar are tied at seven-under 197, Dinesh played a round of four-under 64 whereas Deepak carded one-under 67.

Amateur Subash Tamang scored three-under 65 for a total score of six-under 198. Niraj Tamang is at five-under 199 after carding a round of two-under 66 today. Jayaram Shrestha is at three-under 201, he played a round of two-under 66. Dhana Bahadur Thapa played even-par today for a total score of one-under 203.

Three players Rajendra Thapa Magar, Rame Magar and Surya Prasad Sharma are at even-par 204 after 54 holes, Rajendra produced a best card of the tournament today, he shot seven-under 61, Rame carded even-par 68 today and Surya had an unforgettable day after shooting seven-over 75.

The opening day leader Rabi Khadka shot six-over 74 for a total of one-over 205, Ramesh Adhikari (67), Pashupati Sharma (69) and Pradeep Kumar Lama (71) are at three-over 207.

Leader Nagarkoti on his bogey free round made a lone birdie on the third hole for a one-under 33 on the front nine, on the back nine he sank birdies on 10th, 15th & 17th holes and added an eage on the 13th for five-under 29.

Rokka opened the day with a bogey on par-5 first hole, then added double-bogey on par-3 third, he came back with birdies on fourth and fifth holes for one-over 35 on the first half. In the second half, he made birdies on the 13th, 14th and 18th holes for three-under 31.

Sanjay made birdies on first, fourth and eighth holes against bogeys on third and sixth holes for one-under 33 on the front nine, he shot one-over 35 on the back nine with sole birdie on the 10th hole against bogeys on 13th and 15th holes.

Dinesh scored two-under 32 on each side with birdies on fifth, seventh, eighth, 10th, 11th and 18th holes against bogeys on ninth and 13th holes.

Veteran pro Deepak scored even-par on the front nine with birdies on fourth and ninth holes against bogeys on third and seventh holes. On the back nine, he sank birdies on 10th, 13th, 14th and 18th holes against drop shots on 11th, 15th and 17th holes for one-under 33.

Amateur Subash scored birdies on the first and fourth holes for a front nine total of two-under 32. On the back nine, he carded birdies on 11th and 13th holes against bogey on the 14th hole for one-under 33.

On the amateur front, Suresh Tamang is distant second with the total score of 11-over 215, Shaswat Pradhan is one-stroke away at 12-over 216, Hari Thapa and Gajendra Gurung are at 14-over 218 and Ajit BK at 16-over 220.

A total of 60 players — 38 pros and 22 amateurs — are taking part in the four-day tournament organised by Nepal PGA under the sponsorship of Surya Nepal Pvt Ltd. 22 professionals and six amateurs made the cut for the final two rounds. The winner of the tournament takes home Rs 100,000, Runner-up will get Rs 65,000 third place Rs 46,000 and the top 21 professionals will earn cash prize from the total purse of Rs 545, 000.