Shrestha, Nagarkoti in four-way tie

Kathmandu, April 25

Nepal No 1 pro Shivaram Shrestha shot six-under 66 to produce the best card on the third day and earn a share of lead with three others going into the final round of the Surya Nepal NPGA Tour Championship here at the Gokarna Golf Club today.

Defending champion Shrestha bounced back strongly in the third round after a disastrous second day when he faced two triple bogeys on his way to six-over 78 to post the 54-hole total of two-under 214. He was tied with two other pros Dhana Bahadur Thapa and Bhuwan Nagarkoti and amateur player Tanka Bahadur Karki. Overnight leader Nagarkoti played a round of two-over 74, while Thapa and Karki carded two-under 70 each.

Shrestha carded three-under 33 on either half. He made a flying start carding three straight birdies and saved pars on six others holes before taking the turn. Shrestha then carded three birdies on the 11th, 15th and 18th holes.

Army Club pro Thapa carded birdies on the first and third holes to ake the turn at two-under 34. He dropped shots on the 11th and 14th holes against birdies on the 12th and 17th holes to finish the back nine at even-par 36.

Likewise, Nagarkoti began the day with a bogey and added three more on the 11th, 15th and 18th holes. He carded birdies on the third and 12th holes. Amateur golfer Karki took the turn at two-under 34 with the help of birdies on the sixth and seventh holes. He then faced bogeys on the 12th and 14th holes against birdies on the 13th and 18th holes.

Purna Sharma (73) was fifth at one-under 215, while amateur Tashi Tsering (70) was sixth at 216. Deepak Acharya (72), Rame Magar (74) and Rabi Khdka (73) shared the seventh position at one-over 217, while Surya Prasad Sharma (75) was 10th at 218.