Shivaram Shrestha opened up a massive eight-stroke lead over his nearest rivals in the third round of the Ghana Shyam’s Professional Golden Jubilee Golf Championship at the Royal Nepal Golf Club (RNGC) on Wednesday.

The RNGC pro carded a third straight five-under 63 for a total of 15-under 189. His elder brother Jayaram, who shot even-par 68, and first round leader Bhuwan Nagarkoti, who carded two-under 66, were tied for the second at seven-under 197. Rame Magar (66) was alone at fourth with a total score of three-under 201 in the specially sanctioned event of Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2017-18.

Surya Prasad Sharma (68) was in fifth with two-under 202 and Dinesh Prajapati (66) in sixth with a total score of one-under 203. Sanjay Lama was next at seventh at even-par 204 after carding two-over 70 on Wednesday.

Deepak Magar carded one-over 69 for a total of three-over 207 and in eighth place. Rabi Khadka was in ninth at 6-over 201 after shooting even-par 68. Bhuwan Kumar Rokka rounded up the top 10 with the score of seven-over 211 as he shot three-over 71 in the third round.

The Nepal No 1 pro Shivaram shot three-under on the front nine with an eagle on par-5 fourth to add to a birdie on the eighth. On the back nine, he sank birdies on 10th, 11th and 13th holes against a bogey on the 16th for two-under 32. Jayaram sank  birdies on second and sixth holes but dropped shots on the third, seventh and ninth holes for a first nine score of one-over 35. On second nine holes, he made birdies on 10th, 11th and 13th holes against bogeys on the 16th and 18th for one-under 33 card.

Nagarkoti shot even-par 34 on the front nine with birdies on first and eighth against bogeys on seventh and ninth holes. On the back nine Nagarkoti sank birdies on 10th and 13th holes for two-under 32 card.

Mithun Rai shot two-over 70 for a total of 10-over 214 to lead the amateur category. Overnight leader and top woman golfer Pratima Sherpa slipped to second after shooting five-over 73 for a total of 12-over 216. Subash Ghising was next at 19-over 223.

In all, 39 golfers—32 pros and seven amateurs—took part in the 72-hole tournament sponsored by Nepal’s first professional golfer Ghana Shyam Thapa to mark his 50 years in professional golf. Only 29 golfers made the cut for the final two rounds in the tournament that offers Rs 500,000 in prize money. The champion will receive Rs 85,000. The first runner-up will get Rs 58,000 and second runner-up will take home Rs 45,000.