Kathmandu, October 29:

The preparation for the Surya Nepal Ninth SAARC Golf Championship is complete, said the organisers, Nepal Golf Association (NGA), at a press meet here at the Le Meridien Gokarna Forest Golf Resort and Spa today.

The best men and wo- men amateur golfers from six SAARC member countries will take part in the biggest amateur golf to be held here from November 1-3,” said NGA president Pradeep Kumar Shrestha. Maldives and Afghanistan, however, are not participating in the tournament, said the organisers. President Shrestha also believed that the mega event would help establish Nepal as a major golfing destination.

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

“After two rounds, the top two nations in men’s event will compete for the title on matchplay format,” said Deepak Acharya, a Nepali pro and the NGA member. “The ladies’ winner will be decided by the two rounds of stroke-play,” Acharya added. 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 other SAARC member invitees along with the losing golfers of the main event.

Speaking on the occasion, vice president of Surya Nepal Pvt Ltd, Samindra Roy said, “We will continue to support golfing event in Nepal as part of the Surya Nepal’s Khelparyatan initiatives”.