Kathmandu, November 10:

Shiva Ram Shrestha and Rabi Khadka advanced to the final of the Samsung Mobile NGA Match Play Golf Tournament at the Royal Nepal Golf Club today.

Shiva Ram was on fire on the second day of the tournament — the third event under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2008. Shiva Ram thrashed Deepak Acharya in the semi-finals after he went 8-up with six holes remaining. In the quarter-final against Surya Sharma, Shiva Ram was 6-up with five holes to go. On both the occasions, Shiva Ram — who won the previous two tournaments under the Tour — became the fastest winning pro of the day.

Acharya, who struggled to beat Deepak Thapa Magar in the quarter-final, was shut out by Shiva Ram, who won the first three holes before Acharya pulled one back on the fourth. Shiva Ram then took three other holes for a six-shot lead on the front nine. After sharing the 10th hole, Shiva Ram won the 11th and 12th holes to seal the victory.

In the other semi-final, Rabi Khadka defeated Ram Thapa on the 16th hole. Khadka was 4-up after he won the 15th hole. Khadka went 3-up after the first four holes but Thapa reduced the margin by one shot on the front nine. Khadka won the 10th and Thapa took 11th hole but Khadka sealed the victory by winning the 13th and 16th holes.

Earlier, Shiva Ram outplayed Surya Sharma; Deepak Acharya beat Deepak Thapa Magar; Rabi Khadka defeated Mani Rai and Ram Thapa overcame Pashupati Sharma in the quarters. The final will be played over 36 holes, while the third-place match will be played over 18 holes on Tuesday.

The winner will receive Rs 50,000, while the runner up will get Rs 30,000. The third and fourth place winners will get Rs 22,000 and Rs 18,000 respectively. The losing quarter-finalists will get Rs 10,000 each and the eight who were out from the first round will get Rs 5,000 each. Samsung Mobile is the sponsor of the event and Sulux Centre the co-sponsor.