The Surya Nepal Challenge, the sixth event of the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2018-19, tees off here at the Royal Nepal Golf Course (RNGC) on Tuesday.

A total of 42 golfers— 33 professionals and nine amateurs—are taking part in the tournament to be played over 72 holes. The cut will be applied after 36 holes or after the second round. The top 21 pros and top six amateurs will make it to the final two rounds.

The tournament offers Rs 441,000 in total prize money with the eventual champion assured of Rs 84,000. The runner-up will receive Rs 53,000 and third-place prp will get  Rs 37,000. All the pros to make the cut are assured of their share of cash rewards.

Among the top professionals to contend for top honour include the defending champion Bhuwan Nagarkoti, Sanjay Lama, Rabi Khadka, and Ram Thapa. Nepal number one Shivaram Shrestha will be unavailable for the tournament as the golfer is currently undergoing training in the United States of America. Tanka Bahadur Karki, Subash Tamang, Rahul BK, and Binod Tamang are the top contenders in the amateur category.

Nepal Professional Golfers Association and RNGC President Rabindra Man Shrestha: “I am confident that the scoring from both professionals and amateurs are going to be low this week. My sincere gratitude to our sponsor for their continuous support towards the development of the game.”