Kathmandu, March 30
Rabi Khadka carded one-under 67 to move back to the lead after the third round of the Surya Nepal Challenge here at the Royal Nepal Golf Club today.
The former Nepal No 1 pro Khadka posted 54-hole total of three-under 201 to open up a two-stroke lead over defending champion Bhuvan Nagarkoti in the sixth event under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2022-23. Former top pro Nagarkoti also carded one-under 67 in the third round for the total score of one-under 203.
First-round leader Khadka had slipped to joint second after the second day and he returned to the top today. He took the turn at even-par 34 before carding one-under 33 on the latter half.
He began the day with a birdie and add-ed another on the fourth but he went on to drop shots on the eighth and ninth holes. On the back nine, Khadka faced a double bogey against birdies on the 10th, 13th and 17th holes.
Nagarkoti dropped shots on the seventh and ninth against birdies in the fourth and eighth holes to take the turn at even-par 34. On the back nine, Nagarkoti carded three birdies on the 10th, 12th and 14th holes but he went on to drop shots on the 11th and 17th holes.
Bhuwan Kumar Rokka was further shot down at third with the total score of even-par 204 after he shot two-over 70.
Winner of the amateur section title of the previous event, Surya Nepal Central Open, and national team member Sadbhav Acharya was at the fourth position after he carded two-over 70 for one-over 205. Acharya, who is four shots off the pace, opened up a one-stroke lead over top amateur Subash Tamang, who shot four-over 74.
After taking the turn at even-par 34 which included a birdie on the first and bogey on the ninth hole, the 16-year-old Acharya had an eventful back nine.
He dropped a shot on the 11th before sinking an eagle on the 13th hole. Acharya then suffered a double par six on the 15th hole and carded a birdie on the 17th before facing a bogey on the final hole.
Overnight leader Dhana Bahadur Thapa faltered to nine-over 77 and he slipped down to share the seventh position with veteran pro Deepak Thapa Magar at six-over 210. Thapa Magar also slipped down after he shot seven-over 75. Three pros Jayram Shrestha, Sanjay Lama and Shivaram Poudel shared the ninth position with amateur Yubraj Bhujel at eight-over 212.
The event - organised by the Professional Golfers Association Nepal under the sponsorship of Surya Nepal Pvt Ltd - carries a cash purse of Rs 545,000.
Top three pros will receive Rs 100,000, Rs 65,000 and Rs 46,000, while others in top 21 will get their share of cash prizes.
A version of this article appears in the print on March 31, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
