By a Staff Reporter
Kathmandu – Nepal’s Number One Amateur golfer Subash Tamang ended the first day of the 9th Nepal Amateur Open Golf Championship remaining on top at Gokarna Golf Club.
Subash carded six-under 66 for a two-stroke lead over fellow national team member Sadbhav Acharya and Sumit Kotwal of India. Sadbhav and Sumit shared the second spot after both players carded four-under 68.
Ugen Dorji of Bhutan scored three-under 69 to be fourth placed, Bangladeshi Md. Sumon is fifth with a score of two under 70. Tashi Tshiring carded one-under 71 is lying in sixth position. Bhutan’s Karma Dorji Khorko and Varun Muthappa of India carded one-over 73 to be in joint seventh position.
Wangchen Dhondup, Tashi Dong, Reon Cariappa, and Pradip KC carded two-over 74 are tied for ninth place. Garv Lakhmani, Shofiqul Islam, and Hridesh Kumar Singh are tied for 13th place at three-over 75.
Subash carded one-under 35 on the front nine with birdies on the first, third, and fourth against bogeys on the eighth and ninth holes. On the back nine, he made birdie on the 10th, 12th, 17th and sank an eagle on the 15th hole for five-under 31.
Sadbhav carded three-under 33 on the front nine with birdies on the first, third, and seventh hole. On the back nine, he made birdies on the 11th and 16th holes against a bogey on the 16th hole for one-under 35.
Sumit carded two-under 34 on both sides, his birdies were on third, fourth, seventh ninth, 10th, 11th, and 13th holes, he dropped a shot on the 17th hole and suffered a double bogey on the sixth hole.
On the team event, Nepal is leading over Bhutan by eight strokes. Nepal’s total score is at 10-under 134, Subash Tamang carded six under 66 and Sadbhav Acharya carded. Bhutan is at two-under 142, Ugen Dorji played a round of three-under 69, and Karma Dorji Khorko shot one-over 73.
Bangladesh is third with a score of one-over 145, Md. Sumon played a round of two-under 70 and Shafiqul Islam shot three-over 75. India is fourth at three-over 147, Sumit Kotwal shot four-under 68 and Suraj Joshi played seven-over 79. Pakistan is a distant fifth after scoring 13 over 157.
In the women’s individual category, Susma Sigdel shot five-over 77 to take a one-stroke lead over Kashmira Shah who turned in a card of six-over 78. Juny Gurung and Sumitra Limbu played 23-over 95.
A total of 51 participants – 44 men and seven women are taking part in the tournament. A cut for men will be applied after 36 holes, top 30 and ties will play the final round.
The 54-hole tournament was organized jointly by Nepal Golf Association and Nepal Tourism Board is being supported by National Sports Council, Bagmati Province Sports Council, Gokarna Forest Resort, and Hotel Royal Singi.
