Nepali youth golfer Rai hangs on in Bangkok

Kathmandu, October 5

Top Nepali amateur golfer Sukra Bahadur Rai carded one-over 72 in the third round of the 83rd Singha Thailand Amateur Open at the Panya Indra Golf Club in Bangkok on Thursday.

Rai, who had teamed up with Tanka Bahadur Karki to win the Bhutan Open last month, slipped down to joint ninth position with the total score of even-par 213, along with India’s IL Aalaap and Hong Kong duo NG Shing Fung Terrence and Cheung Matthew Hung Hai.

Witchayanon Chothirunrungrueng of Thailand leads the table with the total score of 13-under 200 after he carded a five-under 67. Jesse Yap (64) of Singapore is a distant second at 202, while Kim Joohyung (71) of Korea is third at 206.

Rai, who began the campaign with a 71 before carding two-under 69 in the second round, played two-over 37 on the front nine before shooting one-under 35 on the latter half. He carded a lone birdie fourth hole and dropped shots on the third, seventh and ninth holes before taking the turn. On the back nine, Rai faced a bogey on the 12th before wrapping up the day with two straight birdies on the last two holes.

Another Nepali golfer, Tanka Bahadur Karki shot his best round of the tournament carding one-over 72 to move up to 62nd position with the total score of 21-over 234. The individual section winner of the Bhutan Ope, Karki had played the rounds of 84 and 78 on the first two days.

A total of 80 golfers are taking part in the tournament.