Pokhara, April 5:

Deepak Neupane brought in the only under-par card to take the first day’s lead at the eighth Surya Nepal Western Open golf here at the par-73 Himalayan Golf Club today.

The 2004 winner here, Neupane carded one-under 72. Ramesh Nagarkoti was second with a round of two-over 75. Deepak Thapa Magar was tied for third with Deepak Acharya at six-over 79. Radheshyam Thapa was fifth and Pashupati Sharma sixth with a card of 80 and 81 respectively. Sabin Sapkota and Ram Thapa tied for seventh at 83 with Sachin Bhattarai (85) at ninth.

Neupane began with birdies on the first two holes. He had bogeys on the next two holes before another birdie in the sixth and took the turn at one-under. Neupane made two more birdies and two bogeys each in his back nine.

Nagarkoti started with a birdie but had bogeys at three, four and five. He made a comeback with birdies on the sixth and eighth. He also saved a stroke on the 11th.

Ravi Khadka leads the amateur section with a card of 85 followed by Hari Bahadur Rai at 87.