KATHMANDU, APRIL 21
Nepal No 1 pro Bhuwan Nagarkoti opened up one-stroke lead over Bhuwan Kumar Rokka after the third round of the Surya Nepal Challenge here at the par-68 Royal Nepal Golf Club today.
Nagarkoti carded a bogey-free six-under 62 to post the 54-hole total of 11-under 193 in the sixth event under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2021-22. Nagarkoti, who had played rounds of 65 and 66 on the first two days, moved four places up to the top of the leaderboard.
Rokka, who shared lead with Sanjay Lama on the second day, slipped to second at 10-under 194 despite carding two-under 66 in the third round. On a day when 10 golfers broke the par, Lama fell to third at eight-under 196 after he returned the evenpar 68 card. Reigning top Nepali pro Nagarkoti hit the form when it mattered the most as he carded four birdies and sank an eagle in his bogey-free round. He took the turn at one-under 33 after he carded a birdie on the third and saved pars on eight other holes. Nagarkoti then added a birdie on the 10th and sank an eagle on the 13th hole. Nagarkoti also carded birdies on the 15th and 17th holes to cap a brilliant day.
Rokka made a bad start to the third round with a bogey and he faced a double bogey on the third. He bounced back with back-to-back birdies on the fourth and fifth holes to take the turn at oneover 35. He carded birdies on
the 13th, 14th and 18th holes to finish the back nine at three-under 31. Lama carded one-under 33 on the front nine that included bogeys on the third and sixth holes against birdies on the first, fourth and eighth. He then carded a birdie on the 10th before dropping one shot each on the 13th and 15th holes to complete the back nine on one-over 35.
Dinesh Prajapati (64) and veteran pro Deepak Magar (67) were tied for seventh at seven-under 197, while Niraj Tamang carded a 66 to move up to sixth at 199. Jayram Shrestha (66) was at seventh on 201, while Dhana Bahadur Thapa (68) was two strokes further behind at eighth.
Surya Prasad Sharma (75), Rajendra Thapa Magar (61) and Rame Magar (68) shared the ninth place at even-par 204. Thapa Magar produced the best card of the tournament so far with the help of seven birdies - first, fourth and fifth on the front nine and 10th, 12th, 13th and 16th on the back nine.
In amateur section, top golfer Subash Tamang carded three-under 65 for the 54- hole total of six-under 198.
The 13th South Asian Games double gold medallist was 17 strokes ahead of second-placed Suresh Tamang, who shot five-over 73 in the third round. Shashwat Pradhan (71) was third at 12- over 216. In all, 60 golfers - 38 pros and 22 amateurs - are taking part in the event that carries a cash purse of Rs 545,000. Top three pros will receive Rs 100,000, Rs 65,000 and Rs 46,000 respectively.
A version of this article appears in the print on April 22, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.
