Top-ranked Shivaram Shrestha opened up a five-stroke lead over overnight co-leader Bhuwan Nagarkoti in the second of Golfer Pilots NPGA Classic on Thursday.

Shrestha shot four-under 64 for a 36-hole total of seven-under 129, while Nagarkoti carded one-over 69 for a total of two-under 134 during the sixth event of the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2017-18 at the par-68 Royal Nepal Golf Club (RNGC). Rame Magar also carded 69 to stay in third with a total score of one-under 135.

Dhana Bahadur Thapa carded two-over 70 to remain in fourth at one-over 37. Sanjay Lama was next at fifth with a total card of 138 after shooting even-par 68 on Thursday. Bhuwan Kumar Rokka shot a 69, Rabi Khadka a 71 and Surya Prasad Sharma a 70 to share the sixth position at three-over 139. Jayaram Shrestha, who shot 72, was tied for ninth at 141 with amateurs Binod Tamang and Subash Ghising. Pradeep Kumar Lama (71) was in 10th at 144.

Amateur golfers Tamang played even-par 68 and Ghising carded two-over 70. Navaraj Chaulagain (73) was in third at 12-over 148, while the only lady golfer Pratima Sherpa had a hole-in-one on 12th on her way to 14-over 82.

The Nepal No 1 Shrestha shot five-under 29 on the front nine and one-over 35 on the back nine. The RNGC pro sank birdies on the first, second, fourth, seventh and ninth holes. On his way back, Shrestha dropped a shot on the 13th and parred rest of the holes.

Nagarkoti carded two-under 32 on the front nine and three-over 37 on the back nine. He sank birdies on the third and fourth in his first nine holes. On the back nine, Nagarkoti had a double bogey on the 10th and bogeys on the 12th, 14th and 17th holes against birdies on the 16th and 18th. Rame Magar shot one-over 35 and even-par 34 on each half . He dropped shots on the second and ninth against a birdie on the seventh hole. On the back nine, Magar sank birdies on the 10th, 11th and 13th against a triple bogey on the 16th hole.

In all, 31 pros and 13 amateur golfers are taking part in the 54-hole tournament. The first and second rounds was played at RNGC with the final to be played at the Gokarna Golf Club. The pro-am tournament will be played on Saturday at the Gokarna. The tournament was initiated by the pilot golfers in 2007 but was not held since 2009. It appeared this year on the annual Surya Nepal Golf Tour.

The champion will receive Rs 55,000 and the runner-up will take home Rs 37,000 with third-placed golfer assured of Rs 25,000 in the tournament that offers Rs 300,000 in total cash prize. There will be no cut in the event but only top 21 pros and ties are entitled for cash rewards.