Kathmandu, March 31

Rame Magar won the Surya Nepal Kathmandu Open to claim his fourth major career title here at the par-68 Royal Nepal Golf Club today.

Magar carded even-par 68 in the final round for the total score of five-under 267 and registered a six-stroke victory over top pro Shivaram Shrestha in the fifth event under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2016-17. With the victory, Magar received trophy and a cheque of Rs 85,000.

Nepal No 1 pro Shrestha, who had won the first four events of the season, finished second at one-over 273 after he carded even-par 68, while Gokarna Golf Club pro Bhuwan Nagarkoti (70) came third at three-over 275. Shrestha and Nagarkoti received Rs 58,000 and Rs 45,000 respectively.

Magar said he was happy with the way he performed over the last four days. “I played an extremely good round on the first day and that helped me win the title with ease after the opponents could not

play that well,” said Magar, who had previously won the Surya Nepal Challenge, President’s Cup and Surya Nepal NPGA Match Play events. “The win is a lesson for other pros as Shivaram (Shrestha) had made the Tour an one-sided affair,” Magar added.

Magar, who began day with six strokes cushion, extended the lead to seven at the end of front nine and made it 10-shot advantage after 11th hole. Shrestha cut the deficit to six after the 15th hole but it was too late to react. Magar carded two-under 32 on the front nine with the help of birdies on the third and fourth hole. He played two-over 36 on the latter half that included a birdie on the 10th against a double bogey on the 13th and a bogey on the next hole.

Shrestha carded one-under 33 on the front nine that included birdies on the first, fourth and ninth against bogeys on the fifth and seventh holes. He played one-over 35 on the latter half where he suffered a double bogey on the 11th hole and carded a birdie on the next. Third-placed Nagarkoti shot two-over 36 on the front nine and carded even-par 34 on the back nine.

Surya Prasad Sharma (71) and Dhana Bahadur Thapa (70) shared the fourth position at five-over 277 and earned Rs 37,500 each. Sanjay Lama (72) was sixth at seven-over 279 and he received Rs 30,000. Bikash Adhikari (70) and Rabi Khadka (69) shared the seventh position at 281 and they got Rs 23,750 each. Bhuwan Kumar Rokka, who had a Hole-in-One on the third day, finished ninth at 282 and bagged Rs 20,000. Krishna Man Rajbahak (71) and Yelamber Singh Adhikari (70) were tied for 10th at 11-over 283 and they earned Rs 17,000 each.

In amateur section, Tanka Bahadur Karki carded even-par 68 to win the title with the total score of 17-over 289, while Sukra Bahadur Rai finished second at 18-over 290 after he shot three-over 71. Tenzing Tsering (68) was third at 292, finishing ahead of overnight leader Phuntsok N Lama, who faltered to 10-over 78 and slipped to fourth at 295.

In all, 40 golfers — 29 pros and 11 amateurs — took part in the event that carried a cash purse of Rs 500,000. Vice-President-Sales and Marketing of Surya Nepal Pvt Ltd Dipra Lahiri, Marketing Manager Bal Kishan Gurung, President of Nepal Golf Association Tashi Ghale and NPGA Advisor Ghana Shyam Thapa handed gave away the prizes to the winners.