KATHMANDU, MAY 29
Top Nepali amateur golfer Subash Tamang carded a superb six-under 66 to take lead on the first day of the ninth Nepal Amateur Open Golf Championship here at the Gokarna Forest Golf Resort today.
The 13th South Asian Games double gold medallist, Tamang bounced back in the back nine carding five-under 31 after taking the turn at one-under 35. He was two strokes ahead of fellow national team member Sadbhav Acharya and India's Sumit Kotwal. Acharya and Kotwal carded four-under 68.
Tamang carded three birdies on the first, third and fourth holes before dropping shots on the eighth and ninth holes. After taking the turn, Tamang carded three birdies on the 10th, 12th and 17th and sank an eagle on the 15th hole for a bogey-free back nine.
Acharya took the turn at three-under 33 with the help of birdies on the first, third and seventh holes. On the back nine, Acharya dropped a shot on the 16th against birdies on the 11th and 17th holes. Indian golfer Kotwal carded two-under 34 on either half. He carded a total of seven birdies on the third, fourth, seventh ninth, 10th, 11th and 13th holes and he faced a double bogey on the sixth and dropped a shot on the 17th hole.
Ugen Dorji of Bhutan was fourth at three-under 69, one shot ahead of Bangladesh's Md Sumon. Nepal's Tashi Tshiring carded one-under 71 for the sixth position, while Bhutan's Karma Dorji Khorko and India's Varun Muthappa were tied for seventh at one-over 73.
Four golfers, Wangchen Dhondup, Tashi Dong, Reon Cariappa and Pradip KCshared the ninth position at two-over 74.
In team event, Nepal opened up eight-stroke lead over Bhutan on the opening day. Nepal, represented by Tamang and Acharya, posted 10-under 134, while Bhutan's Ugen Dorji (69) and Karma Dorji Khorko (73) were second at two-under 142. Bangladesh were third at one-over 145, followed by India (147) and Pakistan (157). The team event will be decided after second round.
In the women's individual event, Susma Sigdel took one-shot lead over Kashmira Shah. Sigdel played five-over 77, while Shah shot six-over 78. Juny Gurung and Sumitra Limbu were tied for third at 23-over 95.
Earlier, Nepal Olympic Committee President Jeevan Ram Shrestha inaugurated the tournament. A total of 51 participants - 44 men and seven women golfers - are taking part in the 54-hole tournament organised jointly by Nepal Golf Association and Nepal Tourism Board.
The evnent is also supported by National Sports Council, Bagmati Province Sports Development Board, Gokarna Forest Resort and Hotel Royal Singi.
A version of this article appears in the print on May 30, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
