Kathmandu, September 23

Shiva Raj Majhi, Tenzing Tsering and Pratima Sherpa won the titles of the Faldo Series Nepal Championship here at the Gokarna Golf Club today.

The Nirvana Country Club player Majhi claimed the boys’ 17-21yrs section trophy, while Tsering finished first in boys’ 13-16yrs and Sherpa came first in girls’ category. The trio qualified For the Faldo Series Asia Finals to be held at the Mission Hills Golf Club next year.

Majhi, who was three-strokes ahead after the second round played four-over 76 for the 54-hole total of seven-over 223. Nepal No 1 amateur golfer, Tamang finished second, three strokes adrift, at 226. Tamang also shot 76 today. Prithivi Malla, who was level with Majhi after he carded two-under 34 on the front nine, failed to keep the momentum going on the latter half and finished third at 227. He produced the best card among the lot, one-over 73.

Both Majhi and Tamang shot five-over 41 on the front nine and carded one-under 35 on the latter half. Majhi, who began playing golf three years ago, was happy to get the chance of playing in greater stage. “I will do a lot of hard works to prepare for the tournament in China,” said the 20-year-old Majhi. “The first two rounds were okay but there was much pressure on the final day,” he added.

Mani Rai, teaching pro at Nirvana, said Majhi deserved to win the Faldo Series berth. “He is a quality player and has the potential to do well in future,” said Rai. “We feel proud when a player of our region earns an opportunity like this,” added Rai, team leader-cum-coach of the team from Dharan.

In boys’ 12-16 section, Tsering played a disastrous 15-over 87 round but he still managed to win the trophy with the total score of 25-over 241. Defending champion Aaryan Kumar faltered to 11-over 83 and came second at 244. Pratima Sherpa shot 17-over 89 in the third round to finish first in girls’ category with the total score of 52-over 268. Kashmira Shah came second with 312.

NGA President Madhukar Yakthumba, Advisor Gen Pyar Jung Thapa, General Secretary Tashi Ghale, and Treasurer Kishan Agrawal gave away the prizes to the winners of the tournament, organised by NGA under the auspices of Gokarna Forest Resort. Supported by R&A and Mission Hills and endorsed by Asian Tour and Asia Pacific Golf Confederation, the 2015-16 Faldo Series Asia campaign stretches over 11 months and will include a minimum of 21 events in 17 countries.

Recognised as the only global amateur series for boys and girls, the Faldo Series was established in 1996, expanding to Asia in 2006. A total of 40 Faldo Series tournaments take place in 30-plus countries worldwide, touching more than 7,000 golfers each year.