Kathmandu, November 5

The Surya Nepal Central Open, the second event under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour, is beginning here at the Gokarna Golf Club on Monday.

A total of 42 golfers — 32 pros and 10 amateurs — will take part in the event that carries a total cash purse of Rs 630,000, informed the organisers, Nepal PGA, in a release today. The cut will be applied after the second round with top 21 pros and at least six amateurs making it to the final two rounds.

Winner of the first event, Ghana Shyam’s Professional Golden Jubilee Golf Championship, Shivaram Shrestha will be vying for the title along with Sanjay Lama, Bhuvan Nagarkoti, Dhana Thapa and Rabi Khadka among others.

The winner of the 72-hole tournament will be richer by Rs 115,000, while the second placed pro will receive Rs 74,000. The third placed pro will earn Rs 53,000, while the professional golfers who make the cut will get their share of cash prizes, the NPGA release added.

Mithun Rai, Phuntshok N Lama, Sunil KC and Subash Ghising among others will fight it out for the amateur section trophy in the absence of national team members — Tanka Bahadur Karki and Sukra Bahadur Rai along with Prithiva Malla and Tashi Ghale. The Nepal national team is scheduled to participate in the 28th Asia Pacific Amateur Golf Team Championship, also known as Nomura Cup, in Malaysia from November 9-12.

President of Nepal PGA, Rabindra Man Shrestha appreciated Surya Nepal Pvt Ltd for their continued support for the sport. “The Surya Nepal Golf Tour is in its 10th year and we are grateful to the sponsors for their generous support. The winning score on the tour has improved tremendously and I am expecting to see some good scores this week.”