By a Staff Reporter
Kathmandu – Nepal No 1 pro-Sukra Bahadur Rai defended the title of the Surya Nepal Central Open, the fifth event under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2022-23, at the par-72 Gokarna Golf Club on Friday.
Sukra carded two-under 70 in the final round for the 72-hole total of 23-under 265, which equaled the record set by India’s Shamim Khan in the 2008 Surya Nepal Masters. Sukra also set the new course record of 11-under 61 in the second round of the tournament.
Sukra recorded a four-stroke victory over Bhuvan Nagarkoti, who carded four under 68 in the final round for a total score of 19-under 269. Along with the 11th career title, Sukra received Rs 140,000, while Bhuvan earned Rs 90,000.
Amateur golfer Sadbhav Acharya finished third overall with a score of 15-under 273 and he won the maiden career title with a one-stroke victory over Nepal No 1 amateur Subash Tamang. Subash carded seven under 65 in the final round for a total score of 14 under 274.
Niraj Tamang came third among pros and fifth overall with a score of two over 290. He played two over 74 in the final round and he received Rs 67,000. Jayram Shrestha faltered to nine-over 81 and he finished fourth among pros with a total score of five-over 293. He earned Rs 55,000. Tanka Bahadur Karki (76) came fifth among pros at 294 and he received Rs 47,000.
Rame Magar played one-over 73 to finish sixth at 295 and got Rs 40,500, while Shivaram Poudel was seventh at 296 after he faltered to 81 and he received Rs 37,000. Sanjay Lama (82), Bal Bhadra Rai (77), and Rabi Khadka (71) shared the eighth place at 10-over 298 and they earned Rs 32,000 each.
Winner Sukra played one-over 37 on the front nine and carded three-under 33 on the back nine. He began the day with a bogey and added another on the sixth. He suffered a triple bogey on the par-3 eighth holes against birdies on the second, third, fifth, and ninth holes. After taking the turn, he carded birdies on the 11th, 12th, and 15th holes.
Bhuvan carded two-under 68 on both halves. He carded birdies on the third, seventh, and ninth holes and dropped a shot on the eighth. After taking the turn, he carded birdies on the 15th and 16th holes.
Amateur Sadbhav, who was four strokes ahead of Subash going into the final round, carded two-under 34 on both halves. He dropped shots on the fifth and ninth holes against birdies on the third and sixth holes and he also sank an eagle on the seventh hole. After taking the turn, he carded birdies on the 11th, 12th, and 15th holes and dropped a shot on the 17th hole.
Subash carded five-under 31 on the front nine and played two-under 34 on the back nine to produce the best card of the day. He carded six birdies on the first, third, fourth, sixth, seventh, and eighth holes and he dropped a shot on the fifth. After taking the turn, he carded birdies on the 11th and 14th holes and sank an eagle on the 12th but he faced bogeys on the 15th and 18th holes.
A total of 40 golfers – 31 pros and nine amateurs — participated in the tournament organized by the Professional Golfers Association Nepal under the sponsorship of Surya Nepal Pvt Ltd. The event carried a total cash purse of Rs 800,000. Vice-president Marketing of Surya Nepal Pvt Ltd Dipra Lahiri and PGA Nepal President Rabindra Man Shrestha handed over the prizes to the winners.
