Kathmandu, May 15:

Shiva Ram Shrestha carded four-under 68 to catch Deepak Thapa Magar, who shot successive three-under 69, with the total of eight-under 208 to share the lead after the after the third round of the Surya Nepal Central Open here at the Le Meridien Gokarna Forest Golf Resort and Spa today.

Deepak Acharya shot another three-under 69 to move up in the third place. Toran Shahi and Deepak Neupane are joint fourth with the total score of one-under 215. First day’s joint leader, Rabi Khadka had a poor day shooting three-over 75 and lies on sixth position with the total of 217. Sanjay Lama is one shot behind Khadka on the seventh place.

Among amateurs, Tashi Ghale took three strokes over Rupak Acharya with the total of 221. Ghale shot three-over 75, while Rupak had a disastrous front nine in his seven-over 79. Raj Pradhan shot a round of even par and is third with the total score of 234.

Shiva Ram had a mediocre front nine of even par with a birdie on the first and third holes with two dropped shots on the fourth and the ninth. But he came back strongly an eagle on the par five 12th and had birdies on the 11th and 18th for four-under 32.

Thapa Magar made a birdie on the third but wasted a stroke on the sixth and made consecutive birdies on seventh and eighth for two under 34 on the front nine. He dropped a shot on the 10th before sinking an eagle on the 12th. He then dropped another shot on the 17th before closing with a birdie for one-under on the back nine.

Deepak Acharya, who was four-over after the first round, hit consecutive 69 that put him six strokes adrift the lead going into the final round. Acharya birdied the third, sixth, seventh and ninth holes on the front nine and dropped shots on second and fourth for a two under 36 on the front nine. On the back nine, he birdied the 10th but wasted a stroke on the next hole and made birdie on the 16th.

Toran Shahi carded three-under 69 that included birdies on the second, fifth, sixth, ninth, 12th, 14th and 15th holes and dropped shots on the third, seventh, 11th and 16th holes. Deepak Neupane carded a round of two-under 70. He made birdies on third, sixth, seventh and ninth and dropped stokes on fifth and eighth for two under 34 on the front nine. On the return path, he birdied the 11th and 13th before dropping shots on the 14th and 18th holes.

Scores after third round: Professionals — 208 - Shiva Ram Shrestha, Deepak Thapa Magar, 214 - Deepak Acharya, 215 - Toran Shahi, Deepak Neupane, 217 - Rabi Khadka, 218 - Sanjay Lama, 220 - C B Bhandari, 221 - Ramesh Nagarkoti, 223 - Radheshyam Thapa, 229 - Ram Thapa, 230 - Surya Sharma, Sachin Bhattarai, 235 - Ram Krishna Shrestha, 240 - Mani Rai, 241 - Sukra Raj Limbu, 248 - Suman Sapkota. Amateurs —

221 - Tashi Ghale, 224 - Rupak Acharya, 234 - Raj Pradhan,

236 - Krishna Hari Mizar, 238 - Jaya Ram Shrestha, 240 - Krishna Man Rajbahak, 247 - Prasanna Upreti, 248 - Prakash Neupane, 252 - Tham Bahadur Rai.