By a Staff Reporter
KATHMANDU – Jayaram Shrestha clinched the title of the Surya Nepal Kathmandu Open at the Royal Nepal Golf Club on Thursday.
Shrestha carded four-under 64 on the final day of the tournament to score a total of nine-under 263 to claim his maiden career title. He registered a two-stroke victory over Nepal No 1 Bhuwan Nagarkoti. Along with the title, Shrestha received a purse of Rs 110,000.
Nagarkoti carded two-under 66 for the 72-hole total of 265 and earned Rs 74,000. Dinesh Prajapati finished third at five-under 267 after the played a round of even-par 68. He bagged Rs 60,000.
Kumar Kami, Bhuwan Kumar Rokka and overnight leader Rabi Khadka shared the fourth position at three-under 269 and received Rs 42,000 each. Kami carded four-under 64, while Rokka played 68 and Khadka faltered to four-over 72.
Sukra Bahadur Rai finished seventh at two-under 270 to earn Rs 32,000, while Dhana Bahadur Prajapati and Sanjay Lama shared the eighth position at two-over 274 and received Rs 26,500 each. Binod Tamang finished 10th at 277 and earned Rs 23,000.
Subash Tamang won the title in the amateur section with a total score of two-under 270, while Nischaya Jung Rayamajhi was a distant second at 21-over 293. Bidur Tamang came third at 295.
Rabi Khadka was two strokes ahead going into the final round and he was on course of big victory after carding birdies on the first three holes. But he faced a triple bogey on the fifth and dropped a shot on the seventh that brought Jayaram Shrestha, Bhuwan Nagarkoti and Dinesh Prajapati in contention.
Khadka was still one stroke ahead of Shrestha after the front nine but he faltered to two-over 37 while Shrestha carded bogey-free four-under 30 after taking the turn. He carded birdies on the first, sixth, 10th, 12th. 13th and 14th holes, while he dropped shots on the seventh and ninth holes.
Second-placed Nagarkoti carded two-under 32 on the front nine before playing even-par 34 on the back nine. He carded birdies on the first and fourth holes before taking the turn. On the back nine, he dropped a shot on the 11th and carded a birdie on the 13th hole.
Prajapati played even-par 34 on both halves. He carded a birdie on the fifth and dropped a shot on the next. After taking the turn, he carded birdies on the 10th and 13th holes against bogeys on the 14th and 17th holes.
A total of 55 players took part in the first event under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2021-22. The event carried a cash purse of Rs 640,000. Vice-president Marketing at Surya Nepal Pvt. Ltd. Dipra Lahiri, President of Professional Golfers Association Nepal Rabindra Man Shrestha and President of Royal Nepal Golf Club Prachanda Bahadur Shrestha handed over the prizes to the winners. The tour will continue with the second event, Surya Nepal Eastern Open, in Dharan from December 27-30.
