DHARAN: Defending champion Deepak Thapa Magar and Rabi Khadka along with last year’s No 1 Shiva Ram Shrestha will be the centre of attraction when the Surya Nepal Eastern Open begins here at the Nirvana Country Club on Monday. The eastern leg of the Surya Nepal Tour 2009-10 is set to tee off with a pro-Am event on Monday, followed by a 54-hole main event over the next three days. The Pro-Am features a total of 48 players — 15 pros and 33 amateurs. Of the 33 amateurs 29 are the local golfers. Nepal Professional Golfers Association (Nepal PGA) is the organiser of the event which is sponsored by Surya Nepal Pvt Ltd. General Secretary of Nepal PGA and a professional golfer, Deepak Acharya said the association had completed all the necessary arrangements for the event. “Golfers are already here and we are all set for the event,” added Acharya. Winner of the first two events under the 2009-10 Tour, Rabi would be eying to complete a hat-trick of trophies. Rabi won the tour opener Surya Nepal Pilot Golfers NPGA Classic at the RNGC and Surya Nepal Western Open at Himalayan Golf Course in Pokhara. Rabi, however, said he would not be bothered by the records and will stick to the basics. “I don’t think there will be any pressure on me. I will play my game and try to maintain the form,” he said. Likewise, defending champion Thapa Magar will also be looking to complete a hat-trick of his own. He won the back-to-back Eastern Open trophies in 2000 and 2008. Like Rabi, fellow RNGC pro Thapa Magar was also not concerned with the records. “I am not thinking that way. I will play my natural game but it will be great if I complete three in a row,” said Thapa Magar. Shiva Ram Shrestha will also be under tremendous pressure to win the first title of the season as the No 1 pro has not won a trophy since the CMS Open in March. Sabin Sapkota, who has stayed back in Dharan for the event, is expected to lead the home challenge along with his younger brother Suman, Mani Rai, Deoraj Pakhrin and Tham Bahadur Rai. The pro event will be held from December 29-31 over 54 holes on stroke play format. Last year the event was played over 36 holes in two days. In all, 24 pros including five local golfers will compete for the championship. Of the total cash prize of Rs 350,000, top three golfers will take home Rs 72,000, Rs 46,000 and Rs 36,000 respectively. Others in the top 20 will also receive their share of cash prizes.