KATHMANDU: Mahendra Kant Mainali scored whopping 47 points to take lead on the first day of the Carlsberg Golf Classic here at the Royal Nepal Golf Club on Friday.

Mainali, an 18-handicap amateur golfer, saved pars on the first eight holes and carded a birdie on the ninth to accumulate 28 points on the front nine, the highest by a golfer in any amateur tournament at the par-67 RNGC course.

Played under stableford full handicap format, Mainali added 19 points on the back nine. He is two points ahead of Ravinder Saini, who scored 23 on the front nine and added 22 on the latter half to accumulate 45 points.

Maj Gen GB Limbu is distant third at 39, followed by BB Shrestha (38) and Phintso Ongdi Lama (36).

A total of 39 players completed their rounds on Friday, while 60 others will play on Saturday.