Kathmandu, September 29

Bhuwan Nagarkoti carded three-under 69 to take three-shot lead on the second day of the Surya Nepal Central Open at the Gokarna Golf Club today.

Nagarkoti posted a halfway total of seven-under 137 to remain three shots ahead of Nepal No 1 and defending champion Shivaram Shrestha at his home course. Shrestha, the joint leader with Nagarkoti on the first day, shot even-par 72 for the 36-hole total of four-under 140. Army Club’s Sanjay Lama moved four places up to third after he carded one-under 71 for a total score of one-under 143, one shot ahead on No 2 pro Rabi Khadka (70).

Nagarkoti shot one-over 37 on the front nine that included birdies on the first and third against bogeys on the second, eighth and ninth holes. Nagarkoti then carded four birdies on the 10th, 12th, 17th and 18th holes to finish the back nine at four-under 32.

Shrestha faltered to two-over 38 before taking the turn and posted two-under 34 on the back nine. Shrestha made a bad start to the round with a bogey on the first hole and dropped two shots on the seventh before carding a lone birdie on the ninth. On the back nine, Shrestha shot three birdies on the 11th, 12th and 18th and in between dropped a shot on the 16th hole.

Three pros — Ramesh Adhikary (72), Bal Bhadra (Mani) Rai (74) and Rame Magar (73) — shared the fifth position at one-over 145, while Surya Prasad Sharma was eighth at 146 and Jayaram Shrestha, who faltered to 77, slipped six spots down to ninth at 147. Bikash Bogati and Prasanna Upreti shared the 10th position at 148. The cut was applied at 21-over 161 with 22 pros and three amateur players making it to the final two rounds.

Prithivi Malla surged ahead in the amateur section with the 36-hole total of seven-over 151. Malla shot two-over 74 which was enough for him to take four-stroke lead after overnight leader Maj Nischaya Jung Rayamajhi faltered to eight-over 80. Tenzing Tsering (77) was third at 158.