Kathmandu, October 26:

Nepal’s golf is all set to witness the biggest ever amateur tournament when the prestigious SAARC Golf Championship tees off at the Gokarna Forest Golf Resort and Spa from November 1-3.

Tashi Ghale in one of the five Nepali golfers who would try to make his mark in the ninth edition of the tournament along with Rupak Acharya and Rabi Khadka. Swastika Shrestha and Kesang Lama will represent Nepal in the ladies’ event.

A successful businessman, Ghale started playing golf since 1986 when his close friend Tshering Sherpa took him to the Royal Nepal Golf Course. Ghale remembers his first drive sending it flying 80 yards away. Today he is known for his driving prowess.

Nepal’s No 1 amateur golfer, Ghale has not won any international event but has great experience playing in such a tournament. He also had the feel of playing in the SAARC Golf Championship after representing Nepal in the 2003, 2004 and 2005. Furthermore, he has so far represented his country twice in the Asian Games in 2002 and 2006.

“It would be impractical to think about winning the championship against the top golfers from defending champion Bangladesh and former champions India and Pakistan, but I will try to cash on the home advantage,” said Ghale. India has dominated the event winning six times followed by Pakistan with one.

Ghale, who won the three successive Surya Nepal Masters’ amateur titles starting from 2003, is also counting on his putting skill. “I have improved a lot in putting and hope that it would help me in the tournament,” said Ghale, a member of a team that won Nepal Amateur Golf Tournament twice in 2004 and 2005. “I am also confident because I am too familiar with the course,” Ghale added.

The event is played in stroke-play and match-play format. The first two days will be stroke-play with two best scores among three players counting for the total points. After two rounds, the top two nations compete in the final for the championship, also played on match-play format.