Surya Prasad Sharma opened up a five-stroke lead after carding a flawless six-under 66 in the first round of Surya Nepal NPGA Tour Championship on Monday.

The sizzling bogey-free round was enough for Sharma to keep a distance with Nepal No 1 Shivaram Shrestha, Sanjay Lama and Rame Magar in the seventh event of the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2016-17. Shrestha, Lama and Magar all shot one-under 71 at the Gokarna Golf Club. Bhuwan Nagarkoti, and Bhu Bahadur Gurung are at one-over 73. Pashupati Sharma, Prasanna Upreti and Rajendra Thapa Magar are at two-over 74. Dinesh Nagarkoti and Rabi Khadka are at three-over 75.

Sharma opened the first round with three consecutive birdies for a three-under 33 on the front nine. On the back nine, he carded birdies on 11th, 13th, and 15th holes for another three-under 33. Top ranked Shrestha carded one-over 37 on the front nine with a birdie on third against bogeys on first and second holes. On his way back, the Royal Nepal Golf Club pro earned shots at 10th, 11th and 14th holes against a bogey on par-3 16th for two-under 34.

Lama’s one-over 37 first nine card included bogeys on fourth and sixth holes against a single birdie on seventh. In the back nine, Lama sank an eagle on 11th hole, birdies on 15th and 16th but bogeys on 14th and 17th dropped his scored to two-under 34. Magar shot one-under 35 with just a birdie on the ninth hole before closing out the day with even-par 35 in the back nine that included a birdie on 10th against a bogey on 15th hole.

Tanka Bahadur Karki leads the amateur category with a card two-over 74, while Bipin Tamang and Tenzing Tsering were next at seven-over 79. In all 40 golfers—33 pros and seven amateur—are taking part in the four-day tournament. Cut will be applied after the second round with top 21 pros and six amateurs making it to the money-making final two rounds. 

The tournament offers Rs 600,000 in prize money with the winner assured of Rs 110,000. The runner-up will receive Rs 70,000 and third-placed pro will earn Rs 50,000. Other pros to make the cut will also receive their share of cash prizes.