Kathmandu, May 25:

Shiva Ram Shrestha took three-stroke lead after carding two under 70 on the first day of the Golfer Pilots NPGA Classic here at the Tribhuvan Army Officers’ Golf Club today.

Three strokes behind were Radheshyam Thapa, Deepak Thapa Magar and Ram Thapa, who all carded one over 73 in the second event of the Surya Nepal Golf Tour. Sanjay Lama finished fifth after a round of two over 74.

Further back were Ramesh Nagarkoti and Rabi Khadka who shared the sixth place at three over 75.

Shiva Ram birdied Hole No 3, 6, and 9 and had bogeys on seventh for two under 34 on the front nine. On the back nine, he birdied the 11th and 16th but dropped shots on 12th and 17th.

Radhe Shyam started badly making a bogey on the first and dropping two shots on the second hole. He birdied seventh and eighth before dropping another shot on the ninth for a total of two over 38 on the front nine. On the back nine, he had birdies on 12, 15 and 18 before dropping shots on 11th and 17th.

Gokarna pro Deepak Acharya is in the eighth position with the score of four over par 76. Acharya’s double bogey on the ninth and triple bogey on the 14th ruined his day. He made birdies on Hole No 5, 11 and 12 but had bogeys on 1st,and 14th.

Among the amateurs Rupak Acharya and Prakash Neupane are on top with the score of

six over 78. Megh Raj Baral is at third position with 79 while two players Dhana Thapa and Nischaya Rayamajhi and tied fourth at 81.