Kathmandu, October 31:

Nepal’s performance in the regional golf event, the Surya Nepal ninth SAARC Golf Championship, so far have been disappointing, but this year the players are looking forward to change the past when the event tees off at the Le Meridien Gokarna Forest Golf Resort and Spa on Thursday.

Rupak Acharya, Tashi Ghale and Rabi Khadka are in the men’s team while Kesang Lama and Swastika Shrestha will play in the ladies’ event.

Except for Maldives and Afghanistan, golfers from six other SAARC member countries will vie for the three-day championship. Three golfers will make a team to represent their countries in the men’s event while two will form the ladies team.

The three-day event will be played in stroke-play and match-play formats. The first two days will be played in the stroke-play format with the best two scores among the three players counting for the total.

After two rounds, the top two teams in men’s event will compete for the title on match-play format. The ladies’ winner, however, will be decided after the two rounds of stroke-play. The event also includes Friendship Cup to be held at the Royal Nepal Golf Club on Saturday which will be participated in by the local and the SAARC member invitees along with the losing golfers of the main event.