Kathmandu, March 2 Nepali golfer Sukra Bahadur Rai began the 12th Faldo Series Asia Grand Final campaign with one-over 72, while Pratima Sherpa faltered to 13-over 84 in the opening round at the par-71 Laguna Lang Co Golf Club in Danang, Vietnam today. Competing in the boys’ U-21 category, Rai carded two-under 33 before taking the turn and played three-over 39 on the back nine. Rai is five strokes off the pace at the fourth position after the first round of the 54-hole R&A World Amateur Golf Ranking. Rai saved pars on the first two holes before carding two straight birdies. He then added two more birdies on the sixth and eighth but in between faced bogeys on the fifth and seventh to take the turn at two-under 33. On the back nine, Rai dropped shots on the 11th, 12th and 14th holes. Ahmed Baig of Pakistan carded four-under 67 to take two-stroke lead over Kevin Caesario Akbar of Indonesia. Japan’s Hayato Yoshida was further one stroke behind at 70. In girls’ U-21 section, Nepal’s Sherpa played a forgettable round of 13-over 83. She is 12th in the 13-player field. Sherpa took the turn at three-over 38 but she lost momentum on the back nine and played 10-over 46. She began the round with a bogey and faced three more on the fifth, seventh and eighth against alone birdie on the sixth before taking the turn. On the back nine, Sherpa faced four bogeys on the 11th, 1th, 14th and 18th holes besides suffering double bogeys on the 13th, 15th and 17th holes. Rai and Sherpa had earned berths in the Final after winning the titles in the CMS sixth Faldo Series Nepal Championship held at the Gokarna Golf Club in December last year. Defending champion Rai won the overall title and boys’ U-21 trophy, while Sherpa defended the girls’ section title. A total of 80 players from 20 countries are taking part in the Final hosted by six-time Major champion and tournament founder Sir Nick Faldo.