Sports
Bhuwan pips Shivaram in playoff
Bhuwan Nagarkoti beat Nepal No 1 Shivaram Shrestha in second extra playoff hole to clinch the Surya Nepal Premier Golf Championship at the par-72 Gokarna Golf Club on Thursday.Bhuwan Nagarkoti beat Nepal No 1 Shivaram Shrestha in second extra playoff hole to clinch the Surya Nepal Premier Golf Championship at the par-72 Gokarna Golf Club on Thursday.
Bhuwan and Shivaram finished tied on 12-under 276 after regulation 72 holes as both carded one-under 71. Both the pros made pars on the first extra hole, the par-3 10th, forcing an extra hole. Bhuwan carded a birdie on the second extra hole, the par-4 18th, to secure the title. The championship was Bhuwan’s third consecutive title, fourth of the season and sixth overall. Bhuwan earned Rs 320,000 while Shivaram, who claimed five titles in the season, received Rs 140,000.
“I am really happy to have make the winning run. Winning three Tour events on the trot in very satisfying,” said Bhuwan, who only barely missed to topple Shivaram from top of the standings. Had Shivaram failed to finish worse than second, Bhuwan would have been crowned as the new Nepal No 1. “I dream of one day becoming the Nepal No 1 and hope to achieve that goal the next season,” said Bhuwan, who only fell a few thousands rupees short of Shivaram in the Order of Merit, which is calculated through the prize money earned in a season.
Toran Bikram Shahi finished third at four-under 284 after a round of one-over 73 on Thursday. He received Rs 95,000. Dhana Bahadur Thapa shot even-par 72 and finished in fourth at 285. He received Rs 77,500. Sanjay Lama (73) ended up in fifth at 287 to receive Rs 69,000, while Bal Bhadra Rai was sixth at 290 and earned Rs 63,000. Jayaram Shrestha and Dinesh Prajapati finished tied for seventh at 291, while Krishna Man Rajbahak was ninth at 292 and Purna Prasad Sharma and Rabi Khadka joint 10th at 293.
Sunil KC won the amateur category title on countback after tying on four-over 292 with Tanka Bahadur Karki. Sunil carded three-over 75, while Tanka shot four-over 76. Prithvi Malla (73) finished third at 294.
Shivaram and Bhuwan opened the final round at 11-under 205. Shivaram went three-stroke up at the halfway stage with two-under 34 against the one-over 37 of Bhuwan. Bhuwan reduced the gap with a birdie on the 12th and was even with Shivaram when the top-ranked golfer dropped shots on the 15th and 16th holes.
Bhuwan opened the fourth round with a bogey, dropped another shot on the eighth but earned a shot on the ninth hole. On his way back, Bhuwan sank birdies on the 11th and 12th holes. Shivaram sank birdies on the third and seventh holes in his front nine card. He added another shot on the 11th but allowed Bhuwan back in the game by dropping shots on the 15th and 16th holes.
In all, 24 pro and nine amateur golfers had made the cut for the final two rounds of the 10th and final event of the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2017-18. The event offered Rs 1.26 million in total prize money. All the pros making it to the final round earned their share of cash prizes.