Outplays Adhikari 7&6 in Surya Nepal NPGA Match Play final; Eighth-ranked Thapa finishes third
Kathmandu, January 26
Dinesh Prajapati outplayed Ramesh Adhikari 7&6 in the final of the Surya Nepal NPGA Match Play here at the Royal Nepal Golf Club today.
The seventh-ranked Prajapati claimed his maiden career title since turning pro in 2014. Along with the trophy, Prajapati earned Rs 60,000, while runner-up Adhikari, who was ranked 13th in the Order of Merit, received Rs 42,000.
The 36-hole contest was expected go neck-to-neck but it turned out to be an one-sided affair as Adhikari, who has bagged three titles in the Tour with the last one coming 10 years ago, faltered when it mattered the most.
Prajapati fell behind in the first hole but he bounced back to take a four-hole lead after nine holes. He then went 8-up after 18 holes.
Adhikari hit back by winning four straight holes from the 19th and at one stage reduced the deficit to just three holes. But Adhikari failed to keep the momentum going and Prajapati managed to go 5-up after the completion of 27 holes. Prajapati then won the 29th and 30th holes to complete the victory with six holes remaining.
Prajapati said he was over the moon to finally end the drought. "It took me nine years to win the first trophy and I am short of words to express my happiness," said Prajapati.
"I want to dedicate thistrophy to my brother, Diwas, who supported me a lot. I was able to focus on golf only because of help and support - including financial - from my brothers and seniors and this is the result of my hard efforts," he added.
Adhikari said putting let him down in the final. "I made a good start winning the first hole but he (Prajapati) capitalised on y poor putting and it was very difficult for me to catch him after he was 8-up in 18 holes. I tried my best after the break but it was too later for me to stage a comeback," added Adhikari, whose three titles included Surya Nepal NPGA Match Play.
Earlier, Eighth-ranked Dhana Bahadur Thapa was pushed to extra hole by 10th ranked Bhuwan Kumar Rokka in the third-place match. Thapa registered the victory in the first playoff hole after the 18-hole match ended in a draw. Thapa received Rs 32,000, while Rokka got Rs 24,000.
Out of the total cash purse of Rs 250,000, the four losing quarter-finalists - Nepal No 1 Sukra Bahadur Rai, No 2 Bhuvan Nagarkoti, No 3 Jayaram Shrestha and No 5 Rabi Khadka - earned Rs 11,000 each, while eight pros eliminated from first round - Tanka Bahadur Karki, Sanjok Moktan, Krishna Man Rajbahak, Pradeep Kumar Lama, Sanjay Lama, Surya Prasad Sharma, Bal Bhadra Rai and Rame Magar - received Rs 6,000 apiece.
A total of 16 players took part in the tournament organised by PGA Nepal under the sponsorship of Surya Nepal Pvt Ltd. Marketing Manager of Surya Nepal Pvt Ltd Keshav Pradhan and Brand Manager Bidur Raj Adhikari gave away prizes to the winners.
According to PGA Nepal General Secretary Deepak Acharya, the fourth event of the Tour - Surya Nepal Western Open - will be held from January 22-25 at the Himalayan Golf Course in Pokhara.
A version of this article appears in the print on January 27, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
