Surya Nepal Challenge tees off

KATHMANDU: Sukra Bahadur Rai and Bhuwan Kumar Rokka shared lead after first round of Surya Nepal Challenge, the seventh event under Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2024-25, at the par-68 Royal Nepal Golf Club on Tuesday.

Sukra and Bhuwan carded 7-under 61 and they are three strokes ahead of Dinesh Prajapati. Dinesh carded 4-under 64 in the first round. Nepal No 1 pro Bhuvan Nagarkoti is fourth at 3-under 65 and Rame Magar is fifth at 2-under 66. Five players, Pradip Kumar Lama, Deepak Magar, Niraj Tamang, Jayram Shrestha and defending champion Rabi Khadka are tied for sixth at 1-under 67.

Phuntsok Norbu Lama and national team member Rahul Bishwakarma are tied for lead in amateur section with the matching score of even-par 68. Balram Poudel and Lt Col Nischaya Jung Rayamajhi are third at 1-over 69.

Co-leader Sukra, who is playing in the domestic tour for the first time in almost two years, took the turn at 2-under 32 and he carded 5-under 29 on the back nine. On his way to playing a bogey free round, Sukra carded birdies on the third, fourth, 10th, 11th, 13th, 14th and 15th holes.

Bhuwan carded an impressive 5-under 29 on the front nine and played 2-under 32 on the back nine. He carded five birdies on the first, fourth, sixth, seventh and eighth holes on the bogey-free front nine. He added three more birdies on the 10th, 13th and 14th holes before facing the lone bogey of the day on the 16th hole.

A total of 47 players – 36 pros and 11 amateurs – are taking part in the 72-hole tournament. After 36 holes, the top 21 pros and amateurs inside the pro cut will make it to the final two rounds. The tournament carries a cash purse of Rs 600,000. The winner will bag a cheque of Rs. 110,000, the Runner-up will take home Rs. 70,000, and third place will earn Rs. 50,000, the fourth place prize is Rs. 42,000 and fifth place will get Rs. 37,000. Other pros in the top 21 will also receive their share of cash prizes.

After the completion of the main event, the Pro-Am will be played on Saturday, in which amateur golfers will team up with professionals.