Sunsari, December 28
Nepal No 1 pro Sukra Bahadur Rai carded a bogey-free six-under 64 to open up four-stroke lead after the second round of the Surya Nepal Eastern Open here at the Dharan Golf Club course today.
Defending champion Rai posted 10-under 130 after 36 holes in the second event under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2022-23. He was four shots ahead of fellow Dharan pro Niraj Tamang.
Overnight leader Tamang carded one-under 69 for six-under 134 total. Rai and Tamang were the members of the Nepal national team that won gold medal in the 13th South Asian Games in 2019.
Rai carded four-under 32 on the front nine and added two-under 32 on the latter half. He saved pars on the first four holes and carded three straight birdies from the fifth before adding another on the ninth. After taking the turn, Rai carded birdies on the 12th and 15th holes.
Overnight leader Tamang carded two-under 34 on the front nine before playing one-over 35 on the latter half. He dropped a shot on the fourth against birdies on the third, fifth and seventh. After taking the turn, he saved pars on all but 13th hole where he faced a bogey.
Sanjay Lama was third at four-under 136 after he carded even-par 70. The winner of the first season-opening Surya Nepal Kathmandu Open was further one shot behind at 137. Lama played oneover 37 on the front nine before carding one-under 33 on the latter half. He faced bogeys on the fourth and seventh against a birdie on the fifth before taking the turn. He then carded three birdies on the 10th, 15th and 16th but dropped shots on the 11th and 14th holes.
Nagarkoti dropped shots on the first and fourth against birdies on the third, fifth and ninth holes on his way to carding one-under 35 on the front nine. After taking the turn, the former Nepal No 1 pro faced bogeys on the 11th and 15th holes against a lone birdie on the 13th. Amateur golfer carded three-under 67 to move up to fifth at two-under 138. Dhana Bahadur Thapa shot an impressive four-under 66 to make a stride to sixth at one-under 139.
Jayram Shrestha (71) was seventh at 141, one ahead of Rame Magar (70). Dinesh Prajapati and Surya Prasad Sharma shot 71 each to share the ninth place at threeover 143. Amateur Yubaraj Bhujel (71) and local pro Bal Bhadra Rai (72) shared the 11th position at 144. Three pros, Deepak Magar (68), Deepak Acharya (71) and Bhuwan Kumar Rokka (71), along with amateur duo Sundar Rai (71) and Rupendra Gurung (72) were tied for 13th at five-over 145.
A total of 21 pros and six amateurs survived the cut that fell at 14-over 154. The event carries a cash purse of Rs 800,000 and top three pros will receive Rs 140,000, Rs 90,000 and Rs 67,000 respectively.
A version of this article appears in the print on December 29, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.
