Amateur golfer Tanka Bahadur Karki and top-ranked pro Shivaram Shrestha shared the first round lead of the Surya Nepal Eastern Open at the par-70 Nirvana Country Club in Dharan on Wednesday.

Both Karki and Shrestha carded four-under 66 in the fourth event of the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2017-18. Sanjay Lama was one stroke behind in second in a congested leaderboard. Jayaram Ram Shrestha, Rame Magar and Amateur Sukra Bahadur Rai were tied for fourth at two-under 68. Local pro Mani Rai and Deepak Acharya were tied for seventh at even-par 70. Veteran Royal Nepal Golf Club (RNGC) pro Deepak Magar, Shiva Kumar Majhi, Deo Raj Pakhrin, Bhuwan Kumar Rokka and amateur Yubaraj Bhujel were tied for 10th at one-over 71.

Karki shot three-under 33 on the front nine with birdies on second, fifth and sixth holes. His back nine score of one-under 33 included birdies on the 11th and 18th holes against a bogey on the 13th. Winners of first two events of the tour, Shrestha carded two-under 34 on the front nine with birdies on the third, fifth, sixth and ninth against bogeys on the first and fourth holes. On his way back, the RNGC golfer sank birdies on the 10th, 11th and 12th against a bogey on the 14th hole for a two-under 32 card.

Lama shot four-under 32 on the front none with birdies on the second, third, sixth and ninth holes. Lama failed to replicate his front nine form going back and closed out with one-over 35. He started the backward journey with a birdie but dropped shots on the 11th and 15th holes.

Shivaram’s brother Jayaram carded one-under 35 on the front nine with birdies on the first, sixth and seventh against bogeys on the fourth and ninth holes. On the back nine, Jayaram sank birdies on the 11th, 12th and 18th against bogeys on the 14th and 17th holes for one-under 33 card.

Rame Magar carded one-under 35 on the first nine and one-under 34 on the second nine holes. Rames sank birdies on the second and fifth against a bogey on the first. His back nine card included birdies on the 12th and 16th holes against a bogey on 14th. Amateur Sukra Bahadur Rai shot two-under 34 on the first nine with birdies on the sixth and ninth holes. On the back nine, Rai sank a birdie on the 18th against a bogey on the 12th for even-par 34.

In all, 61 golfers—30 pros and 31 amateurs—are taking part tournament organised by Nepal Professional Golfers Association. Cut will be applied after the second round with top 21 pros and six amateurs making in to the final round. The tournament offers a total of Rs 630,000 in prize money with top three pros to earn Rs 115,000, Rs 74,000 and Rs 53,000. Other pros to survive the cut are also assured of cash rewards.