The top amateur rallies to beat defending champion Tamang by two shots
KATHMANDU, DECEMBER 13
Nepal No 1 amateur Sadbhav Acharya recorded a two-stroke victory over defending champion Niraj Tamang in the grueling final day of the Surya Nepal Kathmandu Open here at the par-68 Royal Nepal Golf Club today.
Acharya, who was one shot behind Tamang going into the final round, carded a scintillating six-under 62 for the 72-total score of record 15-under 157 in the second event under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2024-25. He became the second amateur to win in the new season after fellow national team member Rahul BK claimed the season-opening Surya Nepal Central Open.
Tamang did card three-under 69 on the final day but that was not enough for him to defend the title. The Dharan pro finished first among pros with the total score of 13-under 259 and earned top prize money of Rs 125,000. Dinesh Prajapati finished second among pros and third overall at eight-under 264 after he carded three-under 65.
Nepal No 1 pro Bhuvan Nagarkoti carded a 64 to climb to fifth overall and third among pros. Prajapati and Nagarkoti received Rs 85,000 and Rs 68,000 respectively.
The final round began on a high note with all three players – Acharya, Tamang and Bishnu Prasad Sharma – carding a birdie on the first hole. Tamang extended his lead to two strokes with a birdie on the second before Acharya pulled level with back-to-back birdies on the fifth and sixth holes. Tamang retained one-shot lead after he carded a birdie on the seventh and both golfers saved pars on next two holes as they carded matching four-under 30 on the front nine.
Both golfers hit their tee shots into the jungle and they struggled to save par on the 10th hole, while there was a twist on the next hole. Acharya went one-shot ahead after the amateur golfer carded a birdie and Tamang three-putted for a bogey. Acharya recovered well from the green-side bunker for a birdie on the 13th hole and extended the lead to two strokes after Tamang made another three-putt for a par.
There was no more drama on the course as both golfers saved pars on the remaining five holes and Acharya claimed his fourth career major title. He also set the new winning total at RNGC emulating the previous best of 14-under held by Bhuvan Nagarkoti on his way to winning the same tournament in the 2022-23 season.
Acharya also claimed the amateur section trophy with a nine-stroke victory over Rahul BK. The winner of the season-opening Surya Nepal Central Open, BK carded four-under 64 on the final day to finish fourth overall at 6-under 266. Kabi Thapa (69) was a distant third in the amateur section with a total score of 284.
The second-round leader Sharma played three-over 71 and he slipped down to share the sixth position with Jayram Shrestha – who carded a total of eight birdies including six straight from the 13th hole on his way to firing six-under 62 – at three-under 269. Sanjay Lama, Deepak Magar and Toran Bikram Shahi rounded the top 10.
A total of 45 golfers took part in the tournament that offered a purse of Rs 735,000. Surya Nepal Pvt Ltd Brand Manager Bidur Raj Adhikari and PGA Nepal President Rabindra Man Shrestha handed over prizes to the winners.
The third event of the season, Surya Nepal Eastern Open will be played from December 25-28 at Dharan Golf Club.
