KATHMANDU, MAY 26
Sukra Bahadur Rai recorded a sixover victory over fellow Dharan pro Niraj Tamang to win the title of the Surya Nepal Premier Golf Championship here at the Gokarna Golf Club today.
Rai carded three-under 69 for the total score of 19-under 269 to claim his third title of the season.
Along with his seventh career title, Rai received Rs 250,000 that also sent him to the top of the Order of Merit.
Another Dharan golfer, Tamang faltered to two-over 74 but still finished second at 13-under 275, one stroke ahead of top pro Bhuwan Nagarkoti, who carded two-under 70 to move up to third. Tamang received Rs 155,000, while Nagarkoti earned Rs 110,000. Nagarkoti, who was Rs 57,500 ahead of Rai going into the final event, fell to second in Order of Merit, while Tamang climbed to fourth. Jayaram Shrestha finished third in Order of Merit.
Amateur golfer Wangchen Dhondup finished fourth overall with the score of 11-under 277 and he received the maiden amateur section trophy. Mahendra Phagani was runner-up at 10-under 278 he carded three-under 69 in the final round. Top amateur Subash Tamang, who produced the best card of the round carding five-under 67, was third at 281, while Indian amateur Aarav D Shah (283), Sadbhav Acharya (286) and Vijay Shrestha Einhaus (291) finished ahead of pros in top 10.
Dubai-based Purna Prasad Sharma, who won Pro-Am title on Sunday, played even-par 72 to claim fourth place among pros with the total score of seven-under 281 and he earned Rs 95,000. Bhuwan Kumar Rokka and Rabi Khadka were tied for fifth at three-under 285 and they received Rs 83,500.
Surya Prasad Sharma came seventh at 288 earning Rs 73,000, while Rajendra Thapa Magar and Dinesh Prajapati were tied for eighth at 290. Five pros, Dhana Bahadur Thapa, Bishnu Prasad Sharma, Sanjay Lama, Bal Bhadra Rai and Rame Magar shared the 10th position at four-over 292. They received Rs 50,600 each.
In all, 43 pros and 11 amateurs took part in the eighth and final event of the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2021-22. The flagship event of the Tour offered a cash purse of Rs 1.46 million. Surya Nepal Pvt Ltd Vice-president Marketing Dipra Lahiri, President of Nepal PGA Rabindra Man Shrestha and Nepal Golf Association President Tashi Ghale handed over the prizes to the winners. Meanwhile, Nepal PGA felicitated its member and referee Ramesh Nagarkoti, and staff duo Ramji Shrestha Rajbahak and Samir Tamang for their contribution in the Tour events.
A version of this article appears in the print on May 27, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.
