Kathmandu, April 1

Shreejay Acharya finished first in the qualifying tournament of the Prince Basundhara Memorial Club Championship here at the Royal Nepal Golf Club today.

Played under stroke play scratch handicap format, Acharya carded three-over 71 to claim the top spot in the qualifying round of the Club Championship which resumed after a gap of 12 years.

The Club Championship began in 1975 with Bishnu Bahadur Shahi winning the first title. The tournament stopped after the 2011 edition won by Sanjay Lama.

Top 16 players were selected in Group A and they will now compete in Match Play tournament for the Club Championship crown. Sixteen other earned berths in Group B and they will play an event under stableford format.

Lt Col Nischaya Jung Rayamajhi finished second for Group A berth with the score of 74, followed by Sanyog Sha-hi and Bharat Bastakoti, who were tied on 75. Others who qualified for Group A included Ranadeep Thapa, Mithun Rai, Jiwan Limbu, Maj Gen Mahesh Bikram Karki, Sonam N Lama, Ang Norbu Sherpa, Hridesh Kumar Singh, Shyam Tamang, Mahendra Kant Mainali, Rabindra Man Shrestha, Maj Bejoy Moktan and Arjun Kumar Karki.

Likewise, Rabindra Raj Bijayananda, SSP Rajendra Shrestha, Phursang Lama, Sanjay Poudyal, Maj Gen Narendra Rawal, Hari Bahadur Shrestha, Maj Gen Kamal Singh Pradhan, Pradip Kumar Shrestha, DIG Ashok Singh, Pradip Bikram Rana, Madan Rana, Maj Gen Vijay Moktan, Phintso Ongdi Lama, Brig Gen Dilip Jung Rayamajhi, Damodar Khadka and Roshan Rai fell in Group B.

A total of 51 golfers took part in the tournament sponsored by Chhinnalata Geet Puraskar Guthi. Guthi Patron Jyoti Shah Singh handed over certificates to the top 16 golfers of the qualifying round.

A version of this article appears in the print on April 1, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.