Tashi Tsering claimed the Nepal Amateur Open Golf Championship, the first by a Nepali golfer, in a thrilling playoff finish as he edged Sukra Bahadur Rai in the first extra hole at the par-72 Gokarna Golf Club on Thursday. 

The title showdown was forced into the playoff after Tsering and Rai finished tied at three-over 219 after the regulation 54-hole play. Tsering shot one-under 71 and Rai carded one-over 73. Wanchen Dhondup finished in third after carding one-over 73 for a total of four-over 220.

In the playoff, Tsering’s tee shot rested seven feet from the hole while Rai missed the green. As Rai was unable to sink the ball in from outside the green, Tsering found the cup for a birdie and with it the trophy. Earlier, Rai missed out on clinching the trophy in regulation play as failed to sink in a birdie from eight feet.

Tanka Bahadur Karki returned with the tournament best card at three-under 69 for a total of seven-over 223. Karki finished in fourth place. Overnight leader Shiva Kumar Majhi had a day to forget as he carded eight-over 80 for a total of nine-over 225. Majhi finished in a tie for the fifth with Tsendra Dorji (76) of Bhutan and Md Shomrat Sikder (74) of Bangladesh.

On Wednesday, Nepal ‘B’ represented by Sukra Bahadur Rai and Shiva Kumar Majhi had lifted the team event trophy with the score of 291. Team Bangladesh represented by Mohammad Shah Alam and Mohammad Shomrat Sikder ended up in second with the score of 302.

Best scorer of each of the three days were also awarded on Thursday. Hridesh Kumar Singh had the best card of 71 on the first day, Rai had the best card of 72 on the second and Karki the best with 69 on Thursday. Tenzing Tsering, who carded a total of 228, won the best player award in the U16 category. Subash Ghising was a distant second at 249.

In all, 48 amateur golfers from Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan took part in the tournament. A total of 30 golfers had made the cut for the final round.