The Pilot Golfers NPGA Classic is set to tee off at the Gokarna Golf Course on Wednesday.

The 54-hole tournament will be played in two venues: Gokarna and Royal Nepal Golf Course (RNGC). The first two rounds of the seventh event of the Surya Nepal Golf Tour will tee played in Gokarna while the final will be staged at the RNGA. The Pro-Am event has also scheduled for Saturday.

Pilot golfers Capt Rabindra Purush Dhakal, Capt Deepak Thapaliya and Capt Vijay Pratap Singh are the main sponsors of the event. The event is a tribute to Capt Badri Kumar Shrestha, the first Nepali pilot who lost his life while serving the nation. Mrs Sabita Shrestha, daughter of Capt Shrestha, has also joined the sponsors’ team.

This tournament was initiated by pilot golfers in 2007 and held until 2009. It was revived last year and will now stay as an annual event on the Surya Nepal Golf Tour. In all, 31 professional golfers including Bhuwan Nagarkoti, Sanjay Lama, and Rabi Khadka will be in the fray for the title. Seven amateur golfers are also taking part in the tournament including Tanka Bahadur Karki, Tashi Tshiring and Binod Tamang.

Top 21 professionals and ties will make the cut for the money-making final round. The eventual champion will receive Rs 85,000 while second-place pro will get Rs 56,000 and third-place golfer Rs 37,000. All the pros to make the cut are assured of their share of cash rewards in the tournament that offers Rs 450,000 in total prize money. A total of 45 golfers including 15 professionals will play the Pro-Am on Saturday.