Bhuwan Nagarkoti extended his lead to four strokes going into the final round of the Surya Nepal Kathmandu Open at the par-68 Royal Nepal Gold Club (RNGC) on Thursday.

The Gokarna Golf Club pro carded even-par 68 in the third round for a total of three-under 201 but would be wary of his nearest rival Shivaram Shrestha, the Nepal No 1 pro. Shivaram also shot even-par 68 on Thursday in the eighth event of the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2017-18.

Jayaram Shrestha and Bikash Adhikari shared the third place at four-over 208 after the former carded four-over 72 and the latter shot six-over 74. Defending champion Rame Magar was in fifth place at five-over 209 after carding one-under 67 in the third round. Rabi Khadka shot five-over 73 and was in sixth with a score of six-over 210.

Deepak Thapa Magar was seventh at 212 after shooting one-over 69, while Surya carded three-over 71 and in eighth place at 213. Bhuwan Kumar Rokka shot a 70 and was ninth at 214 and Ramesh Nagarkoti in 10th at 217 after carding four-over 72.

Tanka Bahadur Karki still holds the lead in the amateur category despite shooting a horrible eight-over 76 on Thursday. Karki is 16-over 220 overall and two strokes ahead of Subash Ghising, who had a hole-in-one on the par-3 17th. Ghising carded seven-over 75 on a day that saw just one golfer, Rame Magar, produce an under-par card. Surendra Phuyal, who carded a 72 is third at 223. 

Nagarkoti shot two-under 32 on the front nine and two-over 36 on the back nine. He sank birdies on the first and fourth in the first nine holes. He earned another shot on the 12th but lost his momentum by making bogeys on the 14th, 17th and 18th holes. 

Shivaram carded one-under 33 on the front nine and one-over 35 on the back nine.

He started with a double bogey but recovered with birdies on the second, fourth and seventh holes. On the back nine, the top-ranked por had another double bogey on the 14th and a bogey on the final hole against birdies on the 10th and 13th holes.

In all 21 pros and six amateurs have made the cut of the final two rounds of the tournament organised by the Nepal Professional Golfers Association. The tournament offers Rs 530,000 in prize money. The champion will receive Rs 90,000,runner-up will earn Rs 61,000 and third placed pro will earn Rs 47,000. Other pros to make the cut are also assured of their share of cash rewards.