Shiva Ram has a comfortable lead heading into final round

KATHMANDU, December 25: Shivaram Shrestha eight-strokes lead going into the final round of the Surya Nepal Central Open here at the par-72 Gokarna Golf Club on Wednesday.

Shiva Ram carded four-under 68 for the 54-hole total of 10-under 206 in the inagural event under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2019-20. Rabi Khadka scored three-under 69 today for a total of two-under 214. Rame Magar scored one-over 73 for a total of two-over 218. Bhuwan Nagarkoti and Sukra Bahadur Rai are at three-over 219, both carded three-over 75 today. Deepak Thapa Magar and Sanjay Lama are at four-over 220, they also had identical round of three-over 75.

Dhana Bahadur Thapa and Amateur Subash Tamang –who is leading the amateur field—are at five-over 221, both of them carded one-over 73. Kumar Kami (74), Bhuwan Kumar Rokka (75) and Tanka Bahadur Karki (76) are at six-over 222. Amateur Ritesh Tamang is five-strokes behind Subash at 10-over 226. He carded one-over 73 today.

Shiva Ram scored two-under 34 on each nine holes. On the front he birdies on first, third and seventh holes against a bogey on the sixth hole. On the back nine, he made birdies on 12th and 15th holes.

Rabi started the day with a bogey on the first hole, but made a comeback with eagle on the third, he made bogey on the eight and birdie on ninth holes for one-under 35 on the front nine. On the back nine, he dropped a shot on the 11th hole but came back strong with birdies on 12th, 16th and 17th holes for a two-under 34 on the back nine.

Rame scored two-under 34 on the front nine making birdies on third, fifth and sixth holes against a bogey on the eighth. On the back nine, his drop shots came on 11th, 12th 14th and 16th holes against a lone birdie on the 17th hole for a three-over 39.

The final 18 holes will be played tomorrow in the first event under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2019-20 season. The tournament offers a cash purse of Rs 700,000. Winner of the event will bag Rs 125,000, while the runner-up will earn Rs 80,000 and third-placed pro will get Rs 58,000. Professionals who have made the cut will earn cash prizes.