Sharma carded one-under 69 to take a one stroke lead over overnight leader Lama at the Nirvana Country Club on Thursday. Sharma, who finished the opening round on four-under 66, was five-under 135 at the par-70 course. Lama carded one-over and dropped to second in the standings at four-under 136.

Local pro Suman Rai carded three-under 67 to move to third at one-over 141 along with defending champion Rabi Khadka (69) of RNGC and Dhana Bahadur Thapa (68) of Tribhuvan Army Officers Golf Club. Nepal No 1 Shiva Ram Shrestha (72) is sixth at 142, while Sabin Sapkota is next at 143 and Tham Bahadur Rai eighth at 144. Ramesh Adhikari, Umesh Nagarkoti and Pashupati Sharma were tied ninth at 145.

Sanjeev Nepali was 12th at seven-over 147 and Ramesh Nagarkoti two shots adrift at 149. Others making the cut for the money-making final round include Deo Raj Pakhrin, Deepak Thapa, Mani Rai, Dinesh Prajapati, Rame Magar, Pradeep K Lama, Jayaram Shrestha and Dhruba KC. The cut was applied at 15-over 155.

Sharma played an even-par 35 in the front nine and carded one-under 34 on the back nine. His card included an eagle on the par-5 sixth and a birdie on the fifth against bogeys on the first, fourth and ninth holes. On the back nine, Sharma sank a birdie on the 14th and saved pars on other eight holes. Lama played even-par 35 on the front nine, saving pars on all the holes.

He had a double bogey on the 10th, a bogey on the 13th against birdies on the 12th and 17th holes for a one-over 36 back nine finish.

Shukra Bahadur Rai carded two-over 72 to lead the amateur category at five-over 145. Rai was five-stroke ahead of his nearest rivals Shiva Raj Majhi (74) and Raju Rai (70), who carded a total of 150. Amateurs Purna Limbu, Yubraj Bhujel and Arun Tamang also made the cut.