Sanjay Lama clinched the Surya Nepal Western Open golf tournament with a two-stroke win over Nepal No 1 Shivaram Shrestha and amateur Sukar Bahadur Rai at the par-69 Himalayan Golf Course on Friday.

Lama never relinquish the lead he took in the first round and closed out the third and final round on Friday at two-over 71 for a total card of even-par 207. It was still enough for Lama to beat top-ranked Shrestha and Rai by two shots. Shrestha carded even-par 69 and Rai scored one-under 68 for a total of two-over 209. Rabi Khadka shot four-over 73 on Friday for a total of three-over 210 to finish in third. Lama received Rs 120,000 while Shrestha got 77,000 and Khadka got Rs 55,000. Being an amateur Rai was not entitled for prize money.

Surya Prasad Sharma carded even-par 69 for a total of four-over 211 and received Rs 43,000 for finishing in fourth place. Krishna Man Rajbahak finished in fifth after carding two-under 69 for a total of five-over 212 and got Rs 35,000. Dhana Bahadur Thapa shot two-over 71 for a six-over 213 total and earned Rs 33,000 for his sixth-place finish. Bhuwan Nagarkoti ended up in seventh at seven-over 214 after carding one-under 68. He got Rs 30,000.

Bhu Bahadur Gurung, a local pro from Pokhara, finished in eighth at nine-over 209 after carding even-par 69 on Friday. Gurung received Rs 28,000. Bhuwan Kumar Rokka ended up in ninth at 10-over 217 and got Rs 26,000. Bikash Adhikari finished in 10th at 11-over 218 and earned Rs 25,000.

As Rai was the runaway winner in the amateur category after finishing overall joint second, Ajit BK had to contend himself with the runner-up spot with the score of eight-over 215. Ajit carded four-over 73 on Friday. Tanka Bahadur Karki was third at nine-over 216 after carding four-over 73.

Lama had a comfortable lead after 45-holes even after playing one-over 37, as Khadka shot five-over 41 on the front nine and Shrestha carded one-over 37. But Shrestha brought himself in contention by coming within one stroke of Lama in the next five holes. Undeterred Lama, however, matched Shrestha’s run by sinking back-to-back birdies on the 14th and 15th hole. Shrestha also sank a birdie on the 14th but had to settle for a par putt in the 15th to hand the momentum back to Lama. Lama sealed the title after both the golfers parred the remaining holes.  

In all 28 golfers including seven amateurs had made the cut for the final round from the original field of 57. The tournament was fifth event of the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2018-19.