KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 16

Shyam Tamang won the second straight title of the Top of the World Golf Classic here at the Mustang Golf Club in Lowathang today.

Played under stableford full handicap format over nine holes, defending champion Tamang earned 19 points to finish first in the men's section.

Lila Jang Gurung finished as runner-up with 18 points. Winner Tamang said acclimatisation was the key to success.

'This is an awesome course with breath-taking landscape views and we are lucky to get a chance to play here,' said Tamang. 'As the course is situated at an altitude of 4,600- plus metres, we have to get acclimatized with local conditions before playing in the course,' he added.

Rabin Rana won the gross section trophy on count back after he was tied on 11 points with Yam Rana and Purna Bahadur Rai. The winner was decided on the count of the last hole after they remained tied on the last six holes and the last three holes. Rana finished first with a par on the ninth hole.

Juny Gurung lifted the women's section title with 15 points, while defending champion Susma Singh came second with 13 points. Bala Ram Thapa bagged the senior section trophy with 16 points.

Atmaram Simkhada – the lone golfer to card a birdie in the tournament - won the most birdies award. Maj Bejoy Moktan, the oldest participant of the tournament at the age of 77 years, bagged the closest-tothe-pin award, while Madhav Simkhada claimed the longest drive trophy. No one could win the Hole-in-One award of a horse worth Rs 100,000 and 50 cartoons of apples worth Rs 200,000 which was announced by golfer Karma Gurung.

In all, 28 golfers including four women players from Kathmandu, Pokhara, Dharan, Bhairahawa and Mustang took part in the tournament organised by Mustang Golf Course under the auspices of Lomanthang Rural Municipality. The tournament was also supported by Nepal Investment Mega Bank, Prabhu Bank, German Bakery Pokhara, Gorkha Brewery and Chimley Orchirds Pvt Ltd. Earlier, Prince of Mustang, Jigme Dhondup Phuntsok Palbar Bista hit the tee from Hole No 1 to inaugurate the event.

Lomanthang Rural Municipality President Tashi Norbu Gurung, Vice-president Chhimi Bista, Administrative Officer Buddhi Ram Upadhyaya, Lo-Ghekar Damodarkunda Rural Municipality President Lobsang Chhompel Bista, Nepal Golf Association Vice-president Pavitra Kumar Karki and Mustang Golf Course Managing Director Indra Dhara Bista handed over prizes to the winners.

Former Member of Gandaki Provincial Assembly Bista thanked the supporters and sponsors for making the event a grand success. 'We inaugurated the course last year and we have completed around 75 per cent of work to get it registered as the world's highest golf course in the Guinness Book of World Records,' said Bista. 'We have planned to make it a world-class course in future and attract high-end tourists from all over the world to contribute to the tourism of the country,' he added.

A version of this article appears in the print on September 17, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.