Sanjay Lama secured his third career title after winning the Surya Nepal Central Open in playoff here at the par-72 Gokarna Golf Course on Thursday.

The game was forced to playoff after both Lama and defending champion Shivaram finished tied at 12-under 276 after 72 holes. Lama edged the Nepal No 1 Shrestha in the second extra hole in the playoff. Lama previously won Western Open in 2010 and Eastern Open in 2014. Lama carded six-under 66 while Shrestha shot four-under 68 in the fourth and final round to force the playoff. Bhuwan Nagarkoti, who never relinquished the lead he took from the first round, shot a disastrous four-over 76 to finish third at 282.

Earlier, Lama forced the playoff after sinking a birdie from around 10 feet as Shrestha two-putted to save the par in the final hole. In the playoff, both the golfers saved par on the par-3 10th hole. But Lama seized the initiative in the next hole, the par-5 18th, as he putted from around 12 feet to save the par. Shrestha, however, failed to do so from almost the same distance to hand over the victory to Lama. Lama earned Rs 100,000 while Shrestha received Rs 63,000 for their efforts. Nagarkoti had to content himself with 45,000.

Lama started the final round four shots behind overnight leader Nagarkoti and two adrift of Shrestha. But it took Lama the first nine holes to join Shrestha in the lead after shooting four-under. Nagarkoti in the meantime fell one stroke of the leading duo. On the back nine both Lama and Shrestha carded two-under 34, while Nagarkoti shot three-over 39.

Lama’s four birdies on the front nine came in the first, third, seventh and eight holes. His back nine card included birdies on the 11th, 12th and 18th against a bogey on the 14th. In his bogey-free final round, Shrestha sank birdies on the third, fifth, 11th and 12th holes.

Rame Magar secured fourth position at two-under 286 after he carding even-par 72, while Surya Prasad Sharma (73) was fifth at one-over 289. Ramesh Adhikary (76) and Bal Bhadra Rai (73) finished tied for sixth at 293. Deepak Thapa Magar (80) and Pashupati Sharma (73) finished at tied eighth at 296. Debutant Bikash Bogati (75) finished alone at 10th with the score of nine-over 297.

Prithivi Malla claimed the amateur category title with the total score of 309. Malla shot 10-over 82 on Thursday. Maj Nischaya Jung Rayamajhi (76) finished second at 314 and Tenzing Tsering (80) third at 321. In all, 39 golfers including nine amateurs took part in first event of the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2015-16. Twenty 22 professional golfers and three amateurs made the cut for the final two rounds.