Top-ranked Shiva Ram Shrestha shot one-over 71 to take a four-stroke lead over Sanjay Lama at the end of the second round of the Surya Nepal Eastern Open golf tournament in Dharan on Tuesday.

The Nepal No golfer Shrestha, who carded three under-67 at the par-70 Nirvana Country Club, finished at two-under 138 after two rounds. Lama played a miserable round of golf, carding five-over 75 to be four strokes behind the Royal Nepal Golf Club golfer. Rabi Khadka, Bhuwan Nagarkoti and Dhana Bahadur Thapa were at third at three-over 143. Khadka shot even-par 70, Nagarkoti carded one-over 71 and Thapa returned with three-over 73 in second round on Tuesday.

Shrestha carded one-over 36 in the first nine holes that include a birdie on the third against bogeys on the first and seventh holes. On the second nine, the leader shot even-par 35 with the help of three bogeys—13th, 14th, 18th—against a double bogey on the par-3 17th and a bogey on the 11th.

Lama had a disastrous card of four-over 39 on the front nine where he dropped a shot on the fifth before coming up with a triple bogey on the ninth. He made some recovery on his way back by finishing at one-over 36 as he parred all the holes except for the 14th where he dropped a shot.

Khadka carded two-over 37 on the front nine and two-under 33 on the back nine. Khadka’s front nine card included birdies on the first and ninth against bogeys on the second, third, fourth and eighth holes. On the back nine, Khadka earned shots on 10th, 12th, 14th and 16th while dropping shots on the 13th and 15th holes. Nagarkoti’s second round card included one-under 34 on the front nine and two-over 37 on the back nine. Thapa shot one-over 36 in the first nine to add to two-over 37 in the second nine holes.

Shiva Kumar Majhi and Sukra Bahadur Rai were tied for the lead at four-over 144 in the amateur category. Majhi shot two-over 72 and Rai carded one-under 69 on Tuesday. Pro Surya Prasad Sharma and amateur Tanka Bahadur Karki were tied eighth at six-over 146. Dharan pros Bal Bhadra Rai and Sabin Sapkota carded seven-over 147. 

In all, 27 golfers including six amateurs survived the cut for the final round. A total of 56 golfers were in fray for the title in the first event held under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2016-17. The top three pros will earn Rs 110,000, Rs 70,000 and Rs 50,000 in the tournament organised by Nepal PGA.