Kathmandu, September 30

Bhuwan (Umesh) Nagarkoti maintained his lead after the third round of the Surya Nepal Central Open here at the Gokarna Golf Club today.

Nagarkoti carded three-under 69 to post a total of 10-under 206 after 54 holes. The home club pro was two strokes ahead of defending champion Shivaram Shrestha.

The Nepal No 1 pro Shrestha returned with the card of four-under 68 for the total score of eight-under 208. Sanjay Lama remained at third at 206 after he produced the best card of the day at five-under 67.

Nagarkoti played one-over 37 on the front nine and carded four-under 32 on the latter half. Nagarkoti saved pars on all the holes on the first half except for the eighth hole where he dropped a shot. He bounced back on the back nine, sinking an eagle on the 12th hole and carding birdies on the 14th and 18th holes.

Second-placed Shrestha carded one-under 35 before taking the turn and added three-under 33 on the back nine. He made a disastrous start with a double bogey but recovered well with a birdie on the third and an eagle on the seventh hole. On the back nine, Shrestha shot birdies on the 11th, 12th and 15th — all par-5 holes — to cap a remarkable comeback.

Lama carded four-under 32 on the front nine that also put him on top of the leaderboard and he played one-under 35 on the back nine. He made a flying start with a birdie and added three more on the fourth, seventh and ninth holes. He went eight-under for the day with birdies on the 10th, 11th, 12th and 14th holes, before he was undone by three straight bogeys from the 15th hole.

Rame Magar was fourth at two-under 214 after he carded three-under 69, while Deepak Thapa Magar produced the card of five-under 67 to earn a share of fifth position at even-par 216 with Surya Prasad Sharma (70).

Magar scored one-under 35 on the front nine and added two-under 34 on the back nine, while Thapa Magar carded four-under 32 and one-under 35 on the two halves. Sharma shot even-par 36 on the first half and added two-under 34 on the back nine.

Ramesh Adhikary (72) was seventh at 217, while Bal Bhadra (Mani) Rai slipped to eighth at four-over 220 after he played three-over 75. Bikash Bogati, playing his first pro event, shot third straight two-over 74 and was at ninth position with a total score of six-over 222 to be at ninth place, ahead of Pashupati Sharma who carded two-under 70.

In amateur section, Prithivi Malla extended his lead to 11 strokes after he played four-over 76 for the total score of 11-over 227. First-round leader Maj Nischaya Jung Rayamajhi was second at 238, while Tenzing Tsering was further three strokes back at 241.

A total of 39 players took part in the season opening tournament of the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2015-16 which offers total prize money of Rs 540,750. Top three pros after Thursday’s final round will receive Rs 100,000,

Rs 63,000 and Rs 45,000 respectively. Others who made the cut will also earn their share of cash prizes.