Kathmandu, October 19:

India defeated Nepal by 15.5 points to claim the Gaekwad Invitational Golf Tournament here at the Le Meridien Gokarna Forest Golf Resort and Spa today.

The visiting Indian team accumulated a total of 36 points played over two days, while Nepal scored 21.5. India had scored 19 to Nepal’s 10 on the first day.

On Sunday, India won seven Main, two Halved and two Bye matches to earn 17 points, whereas Nepal claimed victories in four Main, two Halved and three Bye matches

that gave them a total of 11.5 matches. On Saturday, India had won nine Main and two Bye matches, while Nepal had claimed four Main and as many Bye matches.

The Indian pair of BB Shrestha and UK Dayananda was the best winning pair on the second day when they registered a brilliant victory over Lt Gen Victory SJB Rana and JB Shrestha. They were five-stroke ahead with four holes remaining.

The best winning pair on the opening day of the tournament was India’s S Kazi and JP Singh, who also defeated Rana and Shrestha on the 12th hole. The pair was seven-up with six holes remaining.

Puspa Rai maintained her lead on the second day to win the ladies’ tournament. Rai, who scored 34 on the first day, added another 33 on Sunday for a total of 67. Dr Ritu Thapa came second with a total score 54 points. Eu Hazur Thapa (54) and Pawitra Yakthumba (49) were the other participants in the category.

In guest section, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal, Zheng Xiang Lin emerged victorious with a total of 70 points. Lin, who led with 29 points after the first day, added 41 points on Sunday, while Dr SB Basnet came second with 54 points. Binod K Chaudhary and Dr Sujit Chakraborty were the other players in the group.

Other winners of the tournament were Eu Hazur Thapa and SK Singh (closest to the pin), Purna Man Shakya and PK Shrestha (longest drive) and Tashi Ghale and Capt Vijay Raichand (straightest drive).

A total of 52 players — 26 on each side — took part in the annual amateur golf tournament organised by the Maharaja Fatehsinhrao Gaekwad Sports Foundation of India. The tournament was played between the teams of former Chief Of Army Staff General Pyar Jung Thapa of Nepal and Prince Sangramsinh Gaekwad, President of the foundation.

Meanwhile, the foundation donated Rs 100,000 for the flood victims of Nepal and Rs 20,000 each to the caddies’ welfare of three golf clubs of Kathmandu — Gokarna, RNGC and Army.