Defending champion Shiva Ram Shrestha defeated Rabi Khadka in the first extra hole of playoff to claim back-to-back title of the Surya Nepal NPGA Tour Championship at the Gokarna Golf Club on Thursday.

The final event of the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2015-16 season was pushed to playoff after Shrestha and Khadka were tied on two-under 286 after 72 holes. Both carded two-under 70 on the final round. Overnight leader Bhuwan Nagarkoti finished third after the home club pro faltered to three-over 75.

In the playoff, both the players hit the green on the par-3 10th hole and Rabi was about 35 feet from the hole and missed his birdie. Shrestha made the birdie putt from 30 feet, he had forced playoff carding a birdie on the 72nd hole. Shrestha earned himself a purse of Rs 100,000 and Rabi got Rs 63,000. Nagarkoti got

Rs 45,000.

Shrestha and Khadka were four-strokes behind overnight leader Nagarkoti. However, Khadka matched Nagarkoti after the front nine as the former carded one-under 35, while the overnight leader shot one-over 37. Shrestha was even-par 36, two-strokes behind Khadka and Nagarkoti. Playing in the forward group, Khadka shot one-under 35 on the back nine to wait on his fate. As the last group approached, Shrestha was one and Bhuwan was two shot behind with both sinking birdies, thus making way for the ultimate champion for a playoff battle.

On regular play, Shrestha made birdies on third, eighth, 12th and 18th holes and made bogeys on first and fourth holes. Khadka carded birdies on second, seventh, 11th and 15th holes and suffered bogeys on eighth and 14th holes. Nagarkoti made bogeys on fifth, 11th, 13th and 14th holes before making lone birdie of the round at the last hole.

Sanjay Lama finished fourth at two-over 290, while Ramesh Adhikari (73) was fifth at three-over 291. Jayaram Shrestha (73) was sixth at five-over 293. Deepak Thapa Magar (71) was seventh at eight-over 296, Rame Magar (70) was eighth at 10-over 298.

In amateur section, Tanka Bahadur Karki won the title with the total score of three-over 291. He played three-under 69. Overnight leader Tashi Tshiring played five-over 77 for a total of seven-over 295. Sukra Bahadur Rai (75) was distant third at 312. A total of 46 players including 15 amateurs took part in the event.