Kathmandu, September 14

Sukra Bahadur Rai opened up a 10-stroke victory after the second round of the Faldo Series Nepal Championship here at the Gokarna Golf Club today.

Rai carded five-under 65 for the 36-hole total score of one-under 143 in the boys’ 17-21yrs age category. Rai will go into Thursday’s final round with an advantage of 10 shots ahead of Raju Diwakar (72). Yubraj Bhujel was further behind at 14-over 158 after he shot seven-over 79, while Tejendra Thapa Magar shot eight-over 80 for a total of 15-over 159.

Rai, who carded four-over 76 on the first day, played an awesome round that included six birdies and a bogey. He saved shots on the third, fourth, sixth and ninth holes to take the turn at four-under 32. On the back nine, Rai carded birdies on 10th and 12th holes before facing the lone bogey of the day on 16th hole for one-under 35.

Diwakar scored one-over 37 on the front nine and played one-under 35 on the latter half. Diwakar carded birdies on the third, sixth, seventh, 13th and 18th holes, while he dropped a shot on the 10th and faced double bogeys on the second and eighth holes.

In the boys’ 12-16yrs category, Dubai-based Indian Golfer Aryaan Kumar scored three-over 75 for a total of seven-over 151 to stay atop. Kumar opened up seven-shot lead over local amateur Tenzing Tshiring, who faltered to 10-over 82. Luca Guidi from Italy scored 13-over 85 for a total of 20-over 164.

Kumar scored even-par 36 on the first half with the help of an eagle on the third hole and a birdie on the ninth holes against bogeys on second, sixth and seventh. On the back nine, he carded birdies on 12th and 18th holes against bogeys on 11th, 15th, 17th and a double bogey on 16th hole for three-over 39.

In the girls section, India’s Sifat Kaur Alag scored eight-over 80 for a total of 15-over 159 that put her 15 strokes ahead of Pratima Sherpa going into the final round. Sherpa carded 13-over 85 for a total of 30-over 174.

The 54-hole event is organised by Nepal Golf Association and Gokarna Forest Resort. In all, 25 junior golfers are taking part in the tournament. Top player each from three categories will earn berths in 11th Faldo Series Asia Grand Final to be held in Vietnam in March 2017.

Supported by The R&A and endorsed by Asian Tour and Asia Pacific Golf Confederation, the 2016-17 Faldo Series Asia campaign stretches over 11 months. As well as two events in China, India and Thailand, the championships are staged in Nepal, Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam.