By a Staff Reporter
Kathmandu – Pro Rabi Khadka regained the top spot after the third round of the Surya Nepal Challenge, the sixth event under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2022-23, at the par-68 Royal Nepal Golf Club on Thursday.
On the third day, Rabi carded one-under 67 for the 54-hole total of three under 201. He is two strokes ahead of defending champion Bhuvan Nagarkoti, who carded one-under 67 for one-under 203. Bhuwan Kumar Rokka is third at even-par 204 after he played two over 70.
National team golfer Sadbhav Acharya is fourth overall and first in amateur section. Sadbhav played two-over 70 for a total score of one over 205 and he is two strokes ahead of Nepal’s No 1 amateur Subash Tamang.
Pro Dinesh Prajapati is fifth overall at two-over 206 after he played three-over 71, while Subash is further one stroke behind at sixth with three-over 207. Subash faltered to four over 72 in the third round.
Deepak Magar and overnight leader Dhana Thapa share the seventh place at six-over 210. Veteran Deepak shot seven over 75, while Dhana faltered to nine over 77. Jayram Shrestha, Sanjay Lama, Shivaram Poudel and amateur Yubraj Bhujel are tied for ninth at eight-over 212.
Rabi, who was a leader in the first round and slipped to second on the second day, played even-par 34 on the front nine before carding one-under 33 on the back nine. Rabi carded birdies on the first and fourth hole before dropping shots on the eighth and ninth holes. Rabi carded birdies on the 10th, 13th, and 17th holes and faced a double bogey on the 12th hole.
Bhuvan also played even-par 34 on the front nine and carded one-under 33 on the back nine. He carded birdies on the fourth and eighth holes but he dropped shots on the seventh and ninth holes. After taking the turn, he faced bogeys on the 11th and 17th holes against birdies on the 10th, 12th and 14th holes.
Bhuwan Rokka carded an even-par 34 on the front nine and played two-over 36 on the back nine. He carded a birdie on the first and dropped a shot on the ninth. After taking the turn, He carded birdies on the 12th and 16th holes but dropped shots on the 10th and 15th holes and suffered a double bogey on the 18th hole.
Amateur Sadbhav carded even-par 34 on the front nine and he played two-over 36 on the back nine. He started the front nine with a birdie and dropped a shot on the ninth. After taking the turn, he faced bogeys on the 11th and 18th holes and suffered a triple bogey on the 15th hole against an eagle on the 13th and birdie on the 17th hole.
The sixth event under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2022-23, organized by Professional Golfers Association Nepal under the sponsorship of Surya Nepal Pvt Ltd, carries a cash purse of Rs 545,000. Along with the trophy, the winner will receive Rs 100,000, while the runner-up will get Rs 65,000 and the third place will earn Rs 46,000. Other pros in the top 21 will get their share of cash prizes.
