By a Staff Reporter
Kathmandu- Amateur golfers Sadbhav Acharya and Subash Tamang shared the lead after the second round of the Surya Nepal Premier Golf Championship, the eighth and final event under the Surya Nepal Premier Golf Championship, at the par-72 Gokarna Golf Club on Wednesday.
Sadbhav carded seven-under 65 on the second day to level with Subash, who played even-par 72, at nine-under 135. They are three strokes ahead of pros Neeraj Tamang and defending champion Sukra Bahadur Rai, who are tied for third at six-under 138. Neeraj produced the best card of the day, carding eight under 64, while Nepal No 1 pro Sukra carded five under 67.
Money leader Bhuvan Nagarkoti and Toran Bikram Shahi shared the fifth position at four under 140. Bhuvan carded four-under 68 and Toran played even-par 72 in the second round. Jayram Shrestha and Shivaram Poudel were tied for seventh at three-under 141 after both the pros played even-par 72. Surya Prassad Sharma is ninth at two-under 142 after he carded two-under 70, while Dinesh Prajapati (72) is 10th at one-over 143.
Co-leader Sadbhav carded five-under 31 on the front nine and played two-under 34 on the back nine. He made a flying start carding five birdies on the first six holes. He began the day with a birdie and carded four straight birdies on the third, fourth, fifth and sixth holes. Sadbhav dropped a shot on the seventh before carding the sixth birdie of the day on the ninth hole. After taking the turn, Sadbhav carded birdies on the 13th and 15th holes.
Subash carded one-under 35 on the front nine and faltered to one-over 37 on the back nine. He carded three birdies on the first, third and seventh holes but dropped shots on the sixth and eighth holes. After taking the turn, Subash carded a birdie on the 12th hole before facing bogeys on the 14th and 18th holes.
Neeraj took the turn at an impressive seven-under 29 and carded one-under 35 on the back nine. After saving pars on the first two holes, Neeraj carded seven straight birdies from the third to ninth holes. On the back nine, he carded three birdies on the 11th, 12th, and 15th holes but he dropped shots on the 14th and 16th holes.
No 1 pro-Sukra carded four under 32 on the front nine and added one under 35 on the back nine. He carded five birdies on the first, second, third, fourth, and seventh holes before dropping a shot on the eighth hole. After taking the turn, he faced bogeys on the 11th and 13th holes against three birdies on the 12th, 15th, and 18th holes.
A total of 23 pros survived the cut which was applied at seven-over 151. Former No 1 Rabi Khadka, Rajendra Thapa Magar, Ram Krishna Shrestha, Kamal Tamang, Bhuwan Kumar Rokka, Dhana Bahadur Thapa, Dal Bahadur Lama, Rame Magar, Purna Prasad Sharma, Bhu Bahadur Gurung made the cut in the professional section. Also, Tashi Ghale, Deepak Magar, Tanka Bahadur Karki, Deepak Neupane and Bal Bhadra Rai survived the cut.
In the amateur section, Tashi Tsering is third at even-par 144 after he carded two-under 70, while Wangchen Dhondup, Bharat Thapa Magar and Prajwal Gurung are other amateurs who made the cut.
A total of 50 golfers – 41 pros and nine amateurs – are participating in the flagship event of the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2022-23. The biggest tournament of the season in terms of prize money and number of participants, the event carries a purse of Rs 1.52 million. The top three pros will receive Rs 270,000, Rs 170,000, and Rs 120,000 respectively. Other pros in top 21 will earn their share of cash prizes.
