Pokhara, February 21
The 23rd edition of the Surya Nepal Western Open is beginning here at the par-69 Himalayan Golf Course on Wednesday.
A total of 45 golfers – 31 pros and 14 amateurs – are taking part in the 54-hole event that carries a cash purse of Rs 800,000, informed the organisers, Professional Golfers Association Nepal at a press meet today. Top three pros of the fourth event under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2022-23 will receive Rs 140,000, Rs 90,000 and Rs 67,000 respectively.
PGAN General Secretary Deepak Acharya said the tournament was a prominent fixture in the Surya Nepal Golf Tour. "We have been organising the Surya Nepal Western Open since 1999 and it is one of the much awaited events of the country," Acharya said. "It is also important from the sports tourism perspective as the tournament has been helping a lot in promotion of domestic tourism," he added.
Out of the 45 golfers, top 21 plus ties pros and a minimum of six amateurs will make it to the final round after 36 holes of golf. The tournament will conclude with a Pro-Am event on Saturday.
"The course, set in the backdrops of majestic Mt Machhapuchchhre and alongside Bijayapur River, has been tweaked at its best and it is certainly going to test the skills of top-notch golfers of the country," said the NPGA. "We have also raised the prize money this year and top 21 pros will also receive cash prizes," said Acharya.
Nepal No 1 pro Sukra Bahadur Rai, who is here in a break from the Professional Golf Tour of India, former top pro Bhuwan Nagarkoti, Dinesh Prajapati, Sanjay Lama, Dhana Bahadur Thapa and Rame Magar are expected to get a touch challenge from the 13th South Asian Games double gold medallist Subash Tamang and fellow national team player Sadbhav Acharya. Tamang and Acharya have been undergoing training at Tarun Sardesai Golf Academy in India and are here for national duty. Rajen Rai, the amateur title winner of the Surya Nepal Eastern Open, will be making his Surya Nepal Golf Tour debut as a pro from this event.
Manager of Himalayan Golf Course, Bhuwan Gurung said maintaining the course was a challenge. "With limited income from the members of the club, it's not easy to keep the course conditions intact. And the hydro project and newly-built international airport have also disturbed a little bit but we are trying our best to maintain the course conditions," said local pro Gurung. The course is rated as one of the most adventurous facilities in the world by Golf Digest.
A version of this article appears in the print on February 22, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
