Bhuwan Nagarkoti clinched the Surya Nepal Kathmandu Open title at the par-68 Royal Nepal Golf Club (RNGC) on Friday.

The Gokarna Golf Club pro Nagarkoti never relinquished the lead the took in the first round to post a two-stroke victory over Shrestha brothers Shivaram and Jayaram. Nagarkoti carded two-over 70 in the fourth round for a total score of one-under 271. Jayaram shot three-under 65 to finished joint second with Nepal No 1 Shivaram, who carded even-par 68 for a total of one-over 273. It was the fourth career title for Nagarkoti which earned him Rs 90,000 top prize. Jayaram and Shivaram collected Rs 54,000 each. 

Defending champion Rame Magar finished fourth at three-over 275 after shooting two-under 66 on Friday. His older brother Deepak Thapa Magar carded one-under 67 to finish fifth at seven-over 279. Rame received Rs 42,000, while Deepak got Rs 36,000.

The RNGC pro Rabi Khadka ended up in sixth at 280 after carding two-over 70 and earned Rs 31,500. Bikash Adhikari carded a 73 and rounded up in seventh at 281 to receive Rs 26,000. Surya Prasad Sharma, who shot a 69, finished  eighth at 282, while Bhuwan Kumar Rokka (69) was ninth at 283 and Ramesh Nagarkoti (70) 10th at 287.

Tanka Bahadur Karki carded even-par 68 to claim the amateur category title with the score of 16-over 288. Surendra Phuyal finished second at 293 after shooting two-over 70 on Friday. Binod Tamang ended up in third at 298 despite carding one-under 67 in the fourth round. Tamang had a hole-in-one on par-3 third a day after Subash Tamang had achieved the feat on Hole 17. Binod and Subash received gift hampers worth Rs 10,000 from golf enthusiast HK Bijay Awale.

Nagarkoti shot even-par 34 on the front nine and two-over 36 on the back nine. He parred all nine holes in the first nine but had a double bogey on the 12th hole. Nagarkoti also dropped another shot on the final hole against a lone birdie on the 16th. Shivaram carded even-par 34 on both the halves. He mixed up birdies on the first, second and fifth holes against bogeys on the third, eighth and ninth. On the back nine, Shivaram sank birdies on the 10th, 13th and 16th but had a double bogey on the 14th before signing off with yet another bogey on the final hole.

Jayaram shot two-under 32 on the front nine and one-under 33 on the back nine. He sank birdies on the first, fourth and seventh but dropped a shot on the sixth hole. On the back nine, Jayaram had a bogey on the 10th before earning shots on the 15th and 16th holes.

In all, 33 pros and 14 amateurs took part in the event organised by Nepal Professional Golfers Association. The event offered Rs 530,000 in total prize money.