Rana clinches Qatar Airways Open crown

Kathmandu, December 3

Robin Rana won the title of the sixth Qatar Airways Open Golf Tournament here at the Gokarna Golf Club today.

Played under stableford 3/4 handicap format over 18 holes, Rana accumulated 42 points to claim the trophy.

The eight-handicap amateur golfer scored 19 points on the front nine and added 23 points on the latter half. Rana received return tickets to Edinburgh.

Madhav Simkhada finished second on count back after he was tied on 37 points with Pemba Sherpa. Simkhada scored 19 and 18 points on the two halves, while Sherpa added 17 on the back nine after taking the turn with 20 points. Simkhada also bagged the closest-to-the-pin award on Hole No 10.

Vijay Shrestha Einhaus won the gross category trophy with 35 points and also claimed the longest drive award for a drive of 350 yards on 18th hole.

Arshiya Banu won the women’s section trophy with 34 points, while Puspa Rai came second with 31. Harish Gorsia scored 34 points to win the senior section title, while Maj (retd) Bejoy Moktan came second with 31 points.

Shreeyog Basnet won the junior category trophy with 16 points. Tenzing Tshiring won the most birdies award on count back after he and Capt Norbu Sherpa carded five birdies each.

Women and junior golfers played on Friday, while the men’s section participants competed today. A total of 100 players took part in the two-day tournament organised by Qatar Airways under the auspices of Gokarna Forest Resort.

Country manager of Qatar Airways Jayaprakash Nair, Airport Services Manager Debendra Mallick, President of Gokarna Golf Club Suhrid Ghimire and Captain Joseph Nathan handed over the prizes to the winners.