Rame Magar fired a sizzling seven-under 61 to open a four-stroke lead over Bhuwan Nagarkoti in the first round of the Surya Nepal Kathmandu Open on Tuesday.

Held at the par-68 Royal Nepal Golf Club (RNGC), Magar made the most of his home course to three-under 31 in the first nine and four-under 30 in the second nine holes. The Gokarna Golf Club pro Nagarkoti shot three-under65, while Sanjay Lama was next in third at one-under 67. Krishna Man Rajbahak and top-ranked Nepali pro Shivaram Shrestha were tied fourth at even-par 68. Surya Prasad Sharma, Dhana Bahadur Thapa, Bikash Adhikari and Yelamber Singh Adhikari were in a group tied for the sixth position at one-over 69.

In the fifth event held under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2016-17, Magar started with back-to-back birdies to add to an eagle on the fourth after dropping a shot on the third hole. On the back nine, Magar sank birdies on the 10th, 13th, 14th and 17th holes in a flawless effort.

Nagarkoti carded one-under 31 on the front nine with a birdie on the first and an eagle on the fourth. He added another birdie on the 13th before dropping a shot on the very next hole to finish the back nine at even-par 34. The Army Club pro Lama carded one-under 33 on the front nine and even-par 34 on the back nine holes. Lama sank birdies on the first, fourth, sixth, eighth and ninth holes but dropped four shots on the par-3 third. On the back nine, Lama sank a birdie on the 10th and 14th, sank an eagle on the 13th against a double bogey on the 13th and further bogeys on the 16th and 17th holes.

Rajbahak shot two-under 32 on the front nine and two-over 36 on the back nine, while Nepal No 1 Shivaram shot one-under 33 in the first nine and one-over 35 in the second nine holes. Basanta Raj Gurung stays on top of the amateur category with three-over 71. Sukra Bahadur Rai was second at 72 and Tenzing Tsering third at 74.

In all, 40  golfers—29 pros and 11 amateurs—are taking part in tournament organised by Nepal PGA under the sponsorship of Surya Nepal Pvt Ltd. Cut will be applied 

after the second round with top 21 pros and at least six amateurs making it to the final two rounds. 

The tournament carries a total prize money of Rs 500,000 with the winner earning Rs 85,000, runner-up taking home Rs 58,000 and third-placed golfer getting Rs 45,000. Other pros who make the cut for the final two rounds are also assured of their share of cash rewards.