Kathmandu, March 22

Dhana Bahadur Thapa won the Pilot Golfers NPGA Classic for his fourth career title here at the Royal Nepal Golf Club today.

Thapa carded six-under 62 for the total score of five-under 207 to beat overnight leader Jayaram Shrestha by two strokes. Shrestha played a round of three-over 71 in the final round. Thapa earned Rs 85,000, while Shrestha, who led for the first two rounds played at the Gokarna Golf Club, received Rs 56,000.

Thapa was seven strokes behind going into the final round but he carded three-under 31 to narrow the gap after overnight leader Shrestha faltered to three-over 37 on the front nine. Thapa then carded two straight birdies on the 10th and 11th to open up one stroke lead. Shrestha faced a bogey on the 12th and Thapa carded another birdie on the 16th to take three-shot lead. Shrestha carded a birdie on the 17th to reduce the deficit but it was too late for him to stage a comeback.

Bhuwan Kumar Rokka finished third at one-under 211 after he played a round of two-over 70. He earned Rs 37,000. Sanjay Lama carded two-under 66 in the final round to finish fourth at even-par 212 and he earned Rs 30,000. Deepak Acharya shared the fifth spot with Rajendra Shrestha Pradhan and they got Rs 24,000 each. Acharya played two-over 70, while Pradhan shot a 72.

Rame Magar was seventh at seven-over 219, while Bikash Adhikari and Rabi Khadka shared the eighth position at 220. Bhuwan Nagarkoti and Surya Prasad Sharma were tied for 10th with the score of 11-over 223.

Tanka Bahadur Karki won the amateur section title despite playing three-over 71 for the total score of one-over 213. Tashi Tshiring came second at 10-over 222.

In all, 30 pros and eight amateur golfers took part in the seventh event under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2018-19. The tournament was sponsored by Pilot Golfers Capt Rabindra Purush Dhakal, Capt Deepak Thapaliya and Capt Vijay Pratap Singh, in memory of Capt Badri K Shrestha. Sabita Shrestha, daughter of Capt Shrestha, also joined the sponsors’ team for the betterment of the tournament. Gandaki Noodles, BB Airways, Air Arabia, and Himalayan Bank are the co-sponsors of the event.

The 54-hole event was played at two different courses. Gokarna hosted the first two days, while the final round was played at the Royal Nepal Golf Club. The event carried a cash purse of Rs 450,000. The tournament will conclude with the Pro-Am event on Friday.