Sports
Shrestha strolls to title triumph
Top-ranked professional golfer Shivaram Shrestha eased to the Surya Nepal Kathmandu Open, the second event under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2018-19, at the par-68 Royal Nepal Golf Club (RNGC) on Friday.Ritesh Rijal
Top-ranked professional golfer Shivaram Shrestha eased to the Surya Nepal Kathmandu Open, the second event under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2018-19, at the par-68 Royal Nepal Golf Club (RNGC) on Friday.
Playing in his home turf, the RNGC golfer carded an even-par 68 for a total score of 11-under 261. Bhuwan Nagarkoti carded five-under 63 to finish in a distant second, six strokes adrift of Shrestha at five-under 267. The 43rd career title was worth Rs 95,000 for the champion. Dhana Bahadur Thapa finished third at 268 after carding one-over 69 on the fourth and final round. Nagarkoti received Rs 65,000 and Dhana earned Rs 55,000.
Bikash Adhikari ended up in fourth at 269 after shooting one-over 69. Adhikari earned Rs 44,000. Rame Magar stood fifth at two-over 274 and got Rs 38,000. Jayaram Shrestha finished in sixth at 277 and received Rs 32,000, while Rajendra Thapa Magar was next at 279 and walked away with Rs 28,000. Bhuwan Kumar Rokka, who carded a 69, and Deepak Magar, who shot a 70, finished tied on eight at 280. Both received Rs 23,000 each. Surya Prasad Sharma shot two-over 70 and finished in 10th at 281. He got Rs 18,000.
Sukra Bahadur Rai, who finished over all fourth, claimed the amateur category title with the score of four-under 268. Rai shot one-over 69 on Friday. Tanka Bahadur Karki, who carded four-over 72, ended up in second at 273, while Subash Tamang finished third at 276. Tamang shot three-over 71 on Friday.
The eventual champion Shrestha carded one-over 35 on the front nine and one-under 33 on the back nine. He sank a birdie on the fourth against bogeys on the first and seventh hole. On his way back, the RNGC pro sank birdies on the 11th and 13th against a bogey on the 15th hole.
Nagarkoti carded three-under 31 on the front nine and two-under 32 on the back nine. Nagarkoti sank birdies on the first, fifth, sixth and eighth holes against a bogey on the fourth. On the back nine, he added shots on the 10th, 13th, 14th and 17 but had bogeys on the 15th and 18th holes. Dhana shot even-par 34 on the front nine and one-over 35 on back nine. He sank birdies on the fourth and ninth holes against bogeys on the first, sixth and 14th.
In all, 29 golfers— 23 pros and six amateurs—were in fray for the top honours.