KATHMANDU, NOVEMBER 17

Nepali golfer Sukra Bahadur Rai faltered in the second round of the IndianOil Servo Masters Golf Tournament at the Digboi Golf Links in Assam today.

Rai played a forgettable round of six-over 78 for the 36-hole total of two-over 146 and missed the cut by one stroke. A total of 58 golfers, up to tied for 49th at oneover 145, survived the cut, while Rai slipped 52 places down to share the 59th position.

Playing in his debut season at the Professional Golf Tour of India, Rai missed the cut for the eighth time, while he earned berths in the money-making final two rounds in eight other events.

With three events remaining in the season, Rai is currently at the 60th position in the Order of Merit.

The Dharan-based pro, Rai - who made a flying start carding four-under 68 to share the seventh position on the first day - played three-over 39 on either half in the second round. He had a poor start dropping a shot on the first hole, while he faced a double bogey six in the third. Rai then carded birdies on the fourth and sixth in his bid to make a comeback but he suffered his second double bogey on the seventh hole.

Rai could not stage a comeback in the second half. He faced four bogeys on the 10th, 15th, 17th and 18th holes against a lone birdie on the 11th. Rai said he struggled with the tee shot throughout the day and that he suffered to the worst round of his career. "I hit very bad tee shots today and could not recover," he said.

"It was a bad day for me as I slumped to the worst round and also missed the cut," added Rai. "I will try to put in my best in the next event."

Indian pro Yuvraj Singh Sandhu carded two-under 70 for 11-under 133 and maintained his lead.

Arjun Sharma moved two places up to second at 10-under 134 after he carded four-under 68, while Sri Lankan Anura Rohana slipped to third at nine-under after he played a round of one-under 71.

A version of this article appears in the print on November 18, 2022 of The Himalayan Times.