Sports
Shrestha in three-way tie
Defending champion Shivaram Shrestha, Ramesh Nagarkoti and Rabi Khadka were tied for the first round lead in the Surya Nepal NPGA Tour Championship at the par-72 Gokarna Golf Club on Monday.Defending champion Shivaram Shrestha, Ramesh Nagarkoti and Rabi Khadka were tied for the first round lead in the Surya Nepal NPGA Tour Championship at the par-72 Gokarna Golf Club on Monday.
All three Royal Nepal Gold Club (RNGC) pros shot identical two-under 70 during the ninth event of the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2017-18. Shiva Kumar Majhi was in third at one-under 71 along with amateurs Tanka Bahadur Karki and Tashi Tsering. Dhana Bahadur Thapa, Rame Magar, Surya Prasad Sharma and Purna Sharma were in a group of four sharing the sixth position at even-par 72 along with amateur golfer Subash Tamang. Krishna Man Rajbahak, Chuda Bahadur Bhandari, Bhuwan Nagarkoti, Dinesh Prajapati and Bikash Adhikari were in another group to share the ninth place at one-over 73.
Nepal No 1 Shrestha shot five-under 31 on the front nine but lost his momentum on the back nine to card three-over 39. The top ranked pro sank birdies on the third, fourth, fifth, seventh and ninth in his bogey-free first nine holes. He sank another birdie on the 11th but had a triple bogeys on two par-5 holes—12th and 15th. He saved pars on the next two holes and sank an eagle on the final hole to make some amends.
Nagarkoti carded even-par 36 on the front nine and two-under 34 on the back nine. He earned a shot on the fifth but had a bogey on the eighth hole. On the back nine, Nagarkoti sank birdies on the 13th and 15th. Khadka shot two-under 34 on the front nine and even-par 36 on the back. He sank birdies on the second and third holes. On the back nine, Khadka sank birdies on the 10th and 15th against bogeys on the 11th and 14th.
In all, 60 golfers—36 pros and 24 amateurs—are taking part in the event organised by Nepal Professional Golfers Association. Cut will be applied after the second round with top 21 pros and six amateurs making it to the final two rounds. The tournament offers Rs 630,000 in prize money with the champion assured of Rs 115000. The runner-up will earn Rs 74,000 and the third-placed pro will get Rs 53000. Other pros to make the cut for the final two rounds will also receive their share of cash rewards.