Kathmandu, December 12

Defending champion Sukra Bahadur Rai extended the lead to seven strokes after the penultimate round of the CMS Faldo Series Nepal Championship here at the Gokarna Golf Club today.

The national team member Rai carded three-over 75 in the second round to add to his overnight score of four-over 76 and posted seven-over 151 total after 36 holes in the boys U-21 age category. Bipin Tamang was second at 14-over 158 after he shot second consecutive seven-over 79. Suresh Tamang (81) was further seven strokes behind at third with 158.

Rai shot three-over 39 on the front nine and carded even-par 36 on the latter half. Rai dropped shots on the first two holes before bouncing back with birdies on the third and fourth. But he faced a triple-bogey eight on the seventh hole before taking the turn. On the back nine, Rai faced bogeys on 11th and 15th before carding birdies on the last two holes.

In girls’ section, Pratima Sherpa bounced back to card one-over 73 to post the 36-hole total of 10-over 154. Sherpa opened up a huge 22-shot lead over Kashmira Shah, who faltered to 14-over 86. Juny Gurung, who shot a 97 to add to her overnight score of 96, was third at 193, three strokes ahead of Prativa Rai (97).

Sherpa played three-over 39 on the front nine before carding two-under 34 on the latter half. Sherpa faced bogeys on second, fourth, eighth and ninth holes and fired a birdie on the seventh. After taking the turn, she carded birdies on 12th, 15th and 16th and dropped a shot on the 14th hole.

In the boys’ U-16 age category, Subash Ghising surged at the top of the leaderboard after he shot a five-over 77 for the total score of 12-over 156. Overnight leader Monish Y Shah of India faltered to 11-over 83 and slipped to second at 16-over 160. Ritesh Tamang (82) was further one stroke behind at third.

Ghising played three-over 39 on the front nine and shot two-over 39 on the latter half. He began the day with a bogey and also dropped shots on the third and seventh holes apart from a double bogey on the fourth against birdies on the sixth and ninth. He then faced a bogey on the 13th and a double bogey on the next hole before carding a birdie on the final hole.

The sixth edition of the tournament is organised by Nepal Golf Association and Gokarna Forest Resort under the sponsorship of ISME Pvt Ltd. A total of 23 golfers are taking part in the three-day tournament played under stroke play format. The winners of all three categories will earn tickets to the 12th Faldo Series Asia Grand Final to be held at Laguna Lang Co in Danang, Vietnam in March next year.