Top ranked Shivaram Shrestha lived up to his billing to leapfrog overnight leader Surya Prasad Sharma at the top of the Surya Nepal NPGA Tour Championship on Wednesday.

Trailing to Sharma by five strokes in the first two rounds, the Nepal No 1 pro from Royal Nepal Golf Club (RNGC) was rewarded for his consistent play as he ended the day with third successive one-under card. Shrestha’s three-under 213 opened up a two stroke lead going into the final round thanks largely to a miserable six-over 78 on Wednesday from Sharma.

Sanjay Lama was three strokes adrift of the leader after carding one-over 73 for a total of even-par 216. Rame Magar shot three-over 75 for a total of three-over 219, the same total as amateur Tanka Karki, who carded even-par 72. Bhuwan Nagarkoti carded even-par 72 for a total of four-over 220. Rajendra Thapa Magar shot even-par 72 for a total of five-over 221. Rabi Khadka carded two-over 74 for a total of six-over 222. Another amateur Tenzing Tsering carded two-under 70 for a total of nine-over 225,  six strokes behind amateur leader Tanka. Jayaram Shrestha shot one-under 71 for a total of 10-over 226.

Shrestha shot one-over 37 on the front nine with a solitary birdie on the fifth against and bogeys on the third and ninth holes. On the back nine, Shrestha sank birdies on 11th and 15th holes for a two-under 34. Sharma had a disastrous start, losing his ball on the very first hole in the woods to end up with triple-bogey. He then made pars in the remaining holes of front nine score of three-over 39. On his way back, Sharma made bogeys on 10th, 14th and 17th hole for another three-over 39.

Lama carded even-par on the front nine with a birdie on the seventh and a bogey on the second. His back nine score of one-over 37 included a double-bogey on the 10th against a birdie on the 11th hole. Magar scored one-under 35 on the first half with birdies on third, sixth and seventh holes against double-bogey on the fourth. On the back nine, Magar scored four-over 40 after dropping shots on 10th,11th,12th and 14th holes.

Karki carded one-under 35 at the turn with birdies on third, sixth, seventh against bogeys on fourth and eighth holes. On the back nine, the amateur golfer sank a birdie on the 15th but dropped shots on 13th and last holes for one-over 37. In all, 21 pros and five amateurs, who made the cut after the second round will compete in the final round on Thursday. The tournament offers Rs 600,000 as cash prizes with the winner earning Rs 110,000. The runner-up will receive Rs 70,000 and third-placed pro will get Rs 50,000. All the pros who made the cut are assured of their share of cash rewards.