Defending champion Tashi Tshiring shot a blistering nine-under 63 in the second round on Thursday to open up a four-stroke lead over overnight leader Tanka Bahadur Karki in the Nepal Amateur Open Golf Championship.

Tshiring was at 10-under 134 overall while Karki, who carded four-under 68 on Thursday, was at six-under 138. Tshiring’s nine-under card is a new record by an amateur in the domestic circuit. Tshiring himself hold the previous best card of seven-under.

Tshiring sank birdies on the second, third, fifth and sixth holes to add to an eagle on par-5 seventh. He sank another birdie on the ninth for a seven-under 29 front nine score. On the back nine, Tshiring sank birdies on 13th, 15th, 17th and 18th against bogeys on the 11th and 16th for a two-under 34 back nine card.

Sukra Bahadur Rai was next at one-over 145 after shooting two-under 70. Subash Tamang was at three-over 147 after shooting one-under 71 in the second round. Prithvi Malla shot four-under 68 for a total of four-over 148. Wangchen Dhondup shot six-over 78 for a total card of six-over 150. Suman Pariyar shot 76 and was at nine-over 153. Ajit BK (77), Niraj Tamang (77) and Vijay Shrestha Einhaus (75) were at 10-over 154.

Karki carded four-under 32 on the front nine despite starting with a bogey. He sank birdies on the second, third, sixth seventh and eighth holes. On his way back, Karki sank further birdies on the 12th and 13th before dropping shots on the 15th and 16th holes for even-par 36.

Rai sank birdies on the second, third, sixth and ninth holes against a bogey on the fifth for a three-under 33 on the first half score. On the back nine, Rai sank birdies on the 11th and 12th but was undone by a double-bogey on the 13th and bogey on the 15th.

Tamang shot even-par 36 on the front nine and one-under 35 on the back nine. His sank birdies on the first, third, seventh, 10th, and 17th holes against bogeys on the eighth and 11th. He also had a double-bogey on the ninth. Malla had a bogeyfree round carding three-under 33 on the front nine and one-under 35 on the back side with birdies on the third, eighth, ninth and 13th holes.

In all, 30 golfers survived the cut in a field of 49 players for the final round on Friday.

Nepal ‘A’ clinch team event title

Tanka Bahadur Karki and Sukra Bahadur Rai of Nepal ‘A’ clinched the team event title of the Nepal Amateur Open Golf Championship with the total score of 283 on Thursday. Karki shot 70 and 68 and his teammate Rai carded 75 and 70. The first two round scores was taken in consideration to decide the winners. Nepal ‘C’ comprising of Yubaraj Bhujel and Niraj Tamang finished second with the total score of 312. Bhujel carded 78 and 80 while Tamang shot 80 and 77. Suresh Tamang and Ajit BK of Nepal ‘B’ finished in third at 315.