Kathmandu, May 14:

Deepak Thapa Magar carded three-under 69 to take the lead after the second round of the Surya Nepal Central Open here at the Le Meridien Gokarna Forest golf Resort and Spa today.

The 2007 Surya Nepal Masters champion Thapa Magar accumulated a total of five-under 139 to take the sole lead. Shiva Ram Shrestha, who had shared the lead with Rabi Khadka at three-under 69 in the first round, returned with a card of one-under 71 for a total of 140.

Khadka was two shots behind Shrestha at two-under 142. Deepak Neupane finished with one-under 71 for a total of 145, where he was caught by Deepak Acharya for the joint fourth position. Acharya carded three-under 69.

After the 36 holes, 17 professionals and nine amateurs survived the cut. Dhana Thapa was disqualified for not signing the scorecard in the amateur section. Among amateur golfers, Rupak Acharya took the lead with a total score of 145, while Tashi Ghale remained second at 146. Krishna Hari Mizar is third at 151.

Thapa Magar, who was third after the first round on Tuesday, started with a bogey, but finished the front nine with two-under 34 including birdies on Hole Nos 3, 6 and 7. On the back nine, he bogeyed the 10th, before sinking birdies in the 12th and 14th.

Shiva Ram had a disastrous three-over 39 on the front nine. After hitting birdies on the third and seventh holes, he dropped five shots in the par-4 ninth. Hurt by the front nine, Shiva Ram played best golf on the back nine, returning with the score of four-under 32. After hitting successive birdies on the 10th and 11th, Shiva Ram sank an eagle on the par-5, 12th. He dropped a shot on the 13th but had a birdie on the last hole.

Rabi Khadka dropped one shot in front nine but a birdie on the 12th and a bogey on the 15th put him level on the back nine. Deepak Acharya’s two-under 34 on the front nine included birdies on the third and sixth holes, while birdies on the 12th and 14th combined with a bogey in the 16th gave him the card of three-under 69.

In amateur section, Rupak Acharya had a round of even-par 36 on the front nine that included birdies on the third, fifth and sixth holes and bogeys on the second, seventh and eighth holes. On the back nine, he sank birdies on the 11th, 12th, 13th and 16th, but dropped two shots on the par-4, 14th hole, before losing another shot on the next hole.

A birdie on the third and bogeys on the fourth and seventh holes gave Tashi Ghale a card of one-over 37 on the front nine, while his one-under 35 on the back nine included birdies on the 12th, 15th, 17th and 18th that covered the two shots he dropped on the 10th and one on the 11th hole.