Pokhara, January 28

Defending champion Bhuwan Nagarkoti carded two-under 68 to move atop the leaderboard after the second round of the Surya Nepal Western Open here at the par-70 Himalayan Golf Course today.

The Gokarna Golf Club pro Nagarkoti posted the total score of three-under 137 to open up one-stroke lead over Nepal No 1 pro Shivaram Shrestha, who faltered to three-over 73 after the impressive first-round score of five-under 65.

Army Club duo Dhana Bahadur Thapa and Sanjay Lama shared the third position at one-under 139.

Nagarkoti recovered well on the back nine carding three-under 32 after taking the turn at one-over 36. He faced bogeys on the second and sixth holes before carding a birdie on the ninth.

He then added three birdies on the 10th, 16th and 17th holes in the bogey-free back nine.

RNGC pro Shrestha continued his form on the front nine carding one-under 35 but the disastrous double par on the par-4 12th hole dashed his hopes of maintaining the lead.

Shrestha carded birdies on the first and sixth after a bogey on the fifth hole to take the turn. Apart from the 12th hole where he dropped four strokes, Shrestha faced a bogey on the final hole against a lone birdie on the 11th hole.

Army pro Thapa played two-over 72, while his teammate Lama carded two-under 68 to share the third position. Surya Prasad Sharma (70) was fifth at three-over 143, while Bhu Bahadur Gurung (72), Rabi Khadka (71) and Pashupati Sharma shared the sixth position at 146.

Rame Magar (75) was ninth at nine-over 149, while Deepak Magar (75) was 10th at 151.

The cut was applied at 24-over 164 with 21 pros and 10 amateurs making it to the third and final round. Jayaram Shrestha, Pradeep Kumar Lama, Sanjeev Bahadur Nepali, Prabhat Kumar Rajbahak, Bikash Adhikari, Dinesh Prajapati, Sabin Sapkota, Ramesh Nagarkoti, Ramesh Adhikari, Gopal Nagarkoti and Chuda Bahadur Bhandari survived the cut.

In amateur, Tanka Bahadur Karki moved atop with the total score of 11-over 151 after he carded one-under 69. Kamal Tamang (73) was one shot behind, while Jiwan Rai (77) was third at 154.

Other amateurs who made the cut were overnight leader Shiva Kumar Majhi, Sukra Bahadur Rai, Mandip KC, Sonam Bhujel, SSP Rajendra Shrestha, Binod KC and Maj Lachhmi Prasad Gurung.

The event carries a cash purse of Rs 540,750 with top three pros receiving Rs 100,000, Rs 63,000 and Rs 45,000 respectively.

Other pros in the top 21 will get their share of cash prizes.

The fourth event under Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2015-16 will end with the Pro-Am tournament on Saturday.