Amateur golfer Ajit BK shot one-one 71 to share the first round lead with pro Jayaram Shrestha at the Surya Nepal Western Open at the par-70 Himalayan Golf Course on Wednesday.

Bhu Bahadur Gurung and Dhana Bahadur Thapa shared the third position at two-over 72, while Surya Prasad Sharma was fifth at 73 in the seventh event of the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2017-18. Bhuwan Nagarkoti and Sanjeev Bahadur Nepali were tied for sixth at four-over 74. Nepal No 1 pro Shivaram Shrestha and Kamal Tamang were for eighth at 75. Rabi Khadka, Rame Magar, Bhuwan Kumar Rokka, Yelamber Singh Adhikari and Bikash Adhikari were in a five-way tie for 10th at six-over 76 along with amateur Yubraj Bhujel.

BK shot one-under 34 in the front nine and two-over 37 on the back nine. He dropped shots on the second and sank birdies on the sixth and eighth holes. On his way back, BK sank birdies on the 10th and 17th holes against bogeys on the 16th and 18th as well as a double bogey on the 11th.

Shrestha carded one-over 36 on the front nine and even-par 35 on the back nine. Shrestha made pars on eight holes but had a bogey on the fifth hole in his front nine card. On the back nine, he dropped shots on the 10th, 12th and 18th holes against birdies on the 11th, 14th and 16th.

In all 43 golfers—26 pros and 17 amateurs—are taking part in the 54-hole tournament organised by Nepal Professional Golfers Association. The event carries a total purse of Rs 630,000. The champions will receive Rs 115,000, and the first and second runner-up will earn Rs 74,000 and Rs 53,000. Other pros in the top 21 will also receive their share of cash prizes. The tournament offers Rs 630,000 in total prize money.