Kathmandu, January 23

The Surya Nepal Golf Tour Qualifying School is beginning here at the Royal Nepal Golf Club today.

A total of 19 aspiring professionals will take part in the 54-hole contest, informed Professional Golfers Association of Nepal in a release. Top five players within the total score of 18-over will earn pro card and they will be eligible to take part in the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2016-17. Prithivi Malla, Kamal Tamang and Ajit BK are the notable amateur players who are vying for pro card over the next three days, informed PGA Nepal, which has been organising the event annually to give opportunity for top amateur golfers to turn professionals.

The Surya Nepal Golf Tour kicked off in December last year with Surya Nepal Eastern Open and the Surya Nepal Challenge was held earlier this month at RNGC. Shivaram Shrestha won both the events. The Tour continues with the Surya Nepal Western Open in Pokhara next month. A total of 70 professional golfers are registered with the Nepal PGA and five more can add their names in the list after the Qualifying School. Apart from the pro cards, the top three players will receive Rs 5,000, Rs 3,000 and Rs 2,000 respectively.