KATHMANDU; Dharan pro Mani Rai carded four-under 68 to take one stroke first round lead over the newly turned pro Rupak Acharya and Krishna Hari Mizar in the Surya Nepal NPGA Tour Championship here at the Gokarna Golf Club today.

Rupak, who turned pro from this event, was

tied for second with Krishna Hari Mizar at three-under 69, two strokes ahead of defending champion Deepak Acharya (71).

Two pros Deepak Neupane and Ram Thapa along with amateur Samundra Giri are joint fifth with the scores of even-par 72s. Another amateur Ramesh Adhikari is overall eighth and second among amateurs at 73, whereas Purna Sharma and Surya Sharma are tied for ninth at two-over 74. Ramesh Nagarkoti and Rabi Khadka are joint 11th at 75.

Rai began the day with two par putts before sinking an eagle on the par-5 third hole. He further sank a birdie on the seventh to take the turn at three-under 33. On the back nine, the Dharan pro dropped a shot on the par-3 10th but birdies on the 12th and 18th saw the golfer finish the back nine at one-under 35 to take one stroke lead over Rupak and Krishna Hari.

The top amateur-turned pro Rupak had two

birdies against a lone bogey for the front nine score of one-under 35. He also sank an eagle on the par-5 12th to stay on course for the second successive title of the Surya Nepal Tour. Rupak won the Central Open at the same course last month as an amateur.

Krishna Hari shot two-under on the front nine that included birdies on the second and fourth holes. He began the back nine with two successive birdies but dropped a shot on the par-3 15th hole to finish the day at 69. The 2009-10 Surya Nepal Tour Money leader Rabi Khadka played a mediocre round of golf on the opening day of the final event under of the season to stay nine strokes off the lead at 11th.

The cut will be applied after the second round (36 holes) with top 20 plus ties making it to the final two rounds along with top four amateurs. A total of 35 golfers — 25 pros and 10 amateurs — are taking part in the event. Of the total prize money of Rs 350,000, the top three winners will receive Rs 72,000, Rs 41,000 and Rs 32,000 respectively. Other pros making the cut are also assured of their share of cash prizes.