Dharan, December 27

Nepal No 1 pro Shivaram Shrestha and amateur golfer Tanka Bahadur Karki carded four-under 66 each to earn a share of lead after the first round of the Surya Nepal Eastern Open here today.

Shrestha, who won the first two events under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2017-18, took the turn at two-under 34 and shot two-under 32 on the back nine.

Shrestha began the day with a bogey and returned on level terms with a birdie on the third. He faced another bogey on the fourth before bouncing back with three birdies on the fifth, sixth and ninth holes. After taking the turn, Shrestha fired three straight birdies from the 10th and dropped a shot on the 14th hole.

Amateur golfer Karki — who made headlines earlier this month when he won the Bhutan Amateur Open — carded birdies on the second, fifth and sixth holes before taking the turn at three-under 33. He played one-under 33 on the back nine that included a bogey on the 13th against birdies on the 11th and 18th holes.

On a day when seven players broke par at the par-70 Nirvana Country Club, second-ranked Sanjay Lama was one stroke off the pace at 67. Lama carded four-under 32 on the front nine with the help of birdies on the second, third, sixth and ninth holes. Lama added another birdie on the 10th but he was undone by the bogeys on the 11th and 15th holes as he finished the back nine at one-over 35.

Jayaram Ram Shrestha and Rame Magar carded two-under 68 to share the fourth position with and amateur Sukra Bahadur Rai.

Local pro Bal Bhadra Rai and Deepak Acharya were tied for seventh after they played rounds of even-par 70.

Likewise, veteran pro Deepak Magar, Shiva Kumar Majhi, Deo Raj Pakhrin, Bhuwan Kumar Rokka and amateur Yubaraj Bhujel shared the 10th position at one-over 71.

In all, 61 golfers — 30 pros and 31 amateurs — are taking part in the fourth event under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2017-18. The 54-hole tournament is organised by Nepal Professional Golfers Association under the sponsorship of Surya Nepal Pvt Ltd.

Cut will be applied after the second round with top 21 pros and at least six amateurs making it to the final round. Out of the total cash purse of Rs 630,000, top three pros will receive Rs 115,000, Rs 74,000 and Rs 53,000 respectively.