Kathmandu, December 18:

Deepak Neupane extended the lead to two strokes on the second day of the second CMS Cup Golf Tournament here at the Royal Nepal Golf Club (RNGC) today.

Neupane, who had a one-stroke lead on the first day after one under 66, carded three over 70 today for a total of two over 136, a two-stroke lead over Ram Thapa. Thapa scored two-over 69 for the straight second day to finish the day second at four over 138.

Mani Rai returned with the best card of the day among pros with one over 68 for a total of five over 139 and leap-frogged two spots up to third.

Pashupati Sharma, who was second after the first day, had a horrible day shooting 10 over 77 that put him at the seventh position with the total score of 10 over 144. Defending champion Deepak Thapa Magar was eighth at 11 over 145.

Among the three players who turned pro from this tournament, Rabi Khadka and Surya Sharma made the cut, while Deepak Baral missed it by one shot. Also missing the cut was Uttam KC. Meanwhile, Sabin Sapkota and Radhe Shyam Thapa were disqualified from

the tournament for ‘wrong drop’ during the play.

Among the amateurs, Tashi Ghale extended his overnight one-stroke lead to 10 strokes with a total of five over 139. Ghale had the best card of the day with two under 65. Second-placed Rupak Acharya had seven over 74 for a total of 15 over 149. Dorji T Sherpa, Jaya Ram Shrestha and Krishna Hari Mazar are joint third with 18 over 152, while Megh Raj Baral, who was third after the first round, was sixth with 21 over 155.

After the second round, 18 professionals and 12 amateurs — cut down from 22 in pro and 23 in amateur sections — remain in the contention for final two rounds.