Kathmandu, January 16

Nepal No 1 pro Shivaram Shrestha and second-ranked Bhuwan Nagarkoti advanced to the final of the Surya Nepal NPGA Match Play here at the Royal Nepal Golf Club today.

Shrestha defeated Rame Magar 6&5, while Nagarkoti edged past Dinesh Prajapati 2&1 in the semi-final matches of the fourth event under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2018-19. The final, which will be played over 36 holes, is slated for Thursday. Magar and Prajapati will play for third place in the 18-hole contest.

In quarter-final matches held earlier, Shrestha registered a 4&3 victory over ninth-ranked veteran pro Deepak Magar, while Rame Magar defeated fourth-ranked Jayaram Shrestha 3&2. Prajapati, who had upset third-ranked Dhana Thapa in the first round, progressed to the semi-finals with a 3&1 victory over No 11 Bhuwan Kumar Rokka, while Nagarkoti edged past Bal Bhadra Rai 3&2.

Top 16 pros in last year’s Order of Merit were eligible to take part in the tournament which carries a cash purse of Rs 250,000. The winner will receive Rs 70,000, while the runners-up will earn Rs 40,000. Likewise, third and fourth placed pros will get Rs 28,000 and Rs 20,000 respectively. Four pros who lost in quarter-finals will get Rs 11,000 apiece, while the eight first-round losers will earn Rs 6,000 each.