KATHMANDU, MAY 30
Nepal team of Subash Tamang and Sadbhav Acharya claimed team event gold medal in the ninth Nepal Amateur Open here at the par-72 Gokarna Golf Club today.
The home team posted 17-under 271 to finish 14 strokes ahead of India in the 36-hole competition. The 13th South Asian Games double gold medallist, Tamang carded four-under 68 and Acharya shot three-under 69 on the second day for seven-under 137.
The pair of Tamang and Acharya - who claimed gold medal in the Bangladesh Amateur Open Golf Championship in March - had posted 10-under 134 in the first round.
India's Sumit Kotwal and Suraj Joshi jumped two places up to finish second at three-under 285. Kotwal carded a flawless eight-under 64, while Joshi played two-over 74 for the score of six-under 138.
They were at the fourth position with the score of threeover 147 in first round.
Bhutan slipped to third at five-over 293 after Ugen Dorji (71) and Karma Dorji Khorko (80) posted seven-over 151.
In men's individual section, India's Kotwal produced the best card of the day to open up two-stroke lead over Nepal's Tamang. Kotwal carded bogey-free eight-under 64 for 36- hole total of 12-under 132.
Overnight leader Tamang carded four-under 68 for 10-under 134. Nepal national team member Acharya carded a bogey-free three-under 69 and he was further three strokes behind at third.
Kotwal carded four birdies each on either half. He made a flying start carding three straight birdies from the second hole and added another on the seventh. After taking the turn, Kotwal carded birdies on the 10th, 14th, 15th and 18th holes.
Tamang carded one-under 35 on the front nine before playing bogey-free three-under 33 on the latter half. He began the day with a bogey before sinking an eagle on the third and birdied the eighth.
He then faced second bogey of the day on the eighth. After taking the turn, Tamang carded birdies on the 11th, 14th and 18th holes.
Acharya carded birdies on the third, seventh and eighth and saved pars on 15 holes on his way to playing a bogey-free round. Bhutan's Ugen Dorji (71) was fourth at four-under 140, while Nepal's Tashi Tsering (71) and India's Varun Muthappa (69) were tied for fifth at two-under 142.
Likewise, Nepal's Wangchen Dhondup (71) and Bangladesh's Md Sumon shared the seventh at one-over 145, while Pakistan's Umair Saleem (73) and Nepal's Tashi Dong (75) were tied for ninth at five-over 149. Top 30 players, including 16 Nepali golfers, survived the cut that fell at 20-over 164.
In women's section, Kashmira Shah moved up to the top with 36-hole total of 14-over 158. Shah played eight-over 80 in the second round. Overnight leader Sushma Sigdel dropped to second at 17-over 161 after she faltered to 12-over 84. Aaiesteena Tanadan (86) was third at 40-over 184.
A total of 51 golfers - 44 men and seven women - are taking part in the 54-hole tournament jointly organised by Nepal Golf Association and Nepal Tourism Board. The event is supported by National Sports Council, Bagmati Province Sports Development Board, Gokarna Forest Golf Resort and Hotel Royal Singi.
A version of this article appears in the print on May 31, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
