Karki takes one-shot lead after first round

Kathmandu, March 21

Tanka Bahadur Karki began the eighth Nepal Open Amateur Golf Championship campaign with a round of two-under 70 here at the Gokarna Golf Club today.

Karki opened up one-stroke lead over defending champion Tashi Tshiring, who carded one-under 71. Wangchen Dhondup played even-par 72 to remain third.

Karki carded two-under 34 on the front nine. He began the day with a birdie and added three more on the third, fifth and ninth holes against a double bogey on the second.

Last year’s Bhutan Open champion, Karki then played even-par 36 on the back nine. He did card three birdies, on 12th 13th and 18th holes  but went on to face bogeys on the 14th 16th and 17th.

Tshiring played even-par 36 on the front nine where he carded a birdie on the third and dropped a shot on the ninth. After taking the turn, Tshiring carded one-under 35 that included birdies on 12th, 14th and 17th holes against bogeys on 10th and 15th.

Third-placed Dhondup played one-over 37 on the front nine and  carded one-under 35 on the latter half. Dhondup began the round with a birdie and added another on the seventh against a bogey on the fifth and a double bogey on the eighth hole. He then carded birdies on the 12th, 13th and 17th holes against bogeys on 14th and 16th holes.

Sukra Bahadur Rai shot three-over 75, while Sunil KC and Subash Tamang were further one shot behind. Ajit BK, Niraj Tamang and Surendra Phuyal shared the seventh position at five-over 77. Binod Tamang, Yubraj Bhujel and  Bangladesh’s Md Shahabuddin are tied at six-over 78.

In team event, Nepal A team of Karki (70) and Rai (75) was at the top with the score of 145. Nepal C of Yubraj Bhujel  (78) and Niraj Tamang (77)  was a distant second at 155, while Bangladesh team represented by Md Shahabuddin (78) and Md Sumon (79) was further two strokes behind at 157.

A total of five teams — three from Nepal and one each from Bhutan and Bangladesh are taking part in the team event that will end on Thursday.

The 54-hole tournament is organized by Nepal Golf Association under the sponsorship of Mountain Sports Federation.

The event is promoted by Nepal Tourism Board and Phiten is the sports recovery partner.