Nepali golfers falter on opening day

Singapore, October 4

Nepali golfers Sukra Bahadur Rai and Tanka Bahadur Karki made a horrible start of the 10th Asia Pacific Amateur Championship here at the New Tanjong Course of Sentosa Golf Club today.

Rai squandered a bright start, while Karki also faltered on the latter part of the round as both the golfers risked the illusive cut in the Asia-Pacific event. Rai, who was even-par 35 on the front nine where he made eight greens in regulation, finished with a disappointing score of five-over 70. His card included two birdies, five bogeys and a double bogey.

Rai made a bright start earning a shot in the first three par-4 holes carding a birdie on the second. He then went on to drop shots on the par-3 fourth and par-5 sixth. After saving pars on the next two holes, Rai carded his second birdie of the day on the ninth to take the turn at even-par 35.

“It was the putting that let me down today,” said Rai after the round. “I played as per the plan but I fell short after reaching the green,” he added. “I still have chance to make the cut and I will try to improve on my putting in the second round tomorrow,” said Rai, who was one-over after the completion of 12 holes and went on to lose five shots on the last seven holes.

Rai began the back nine saving pars on the first two holes before dropping a shot on the par-4 12th hole. He suffered a double bogey six on the next hole and never recovered. Rai also faced bogeys on the 14th and 18th holes.

“I was hitting the ball well and could have saved a couple of shots after reaching the green. But it was not my day as I missed three birdie putts from less than 10 feet and also three-putted on two occasions,” said Rai.

Another Nepali golfer, Karki also made a bright start carding a birdie on the first hole and was three-over after 10 holes. But he faced two straight double bogeys on the next two holes and dropped shots on the 13th and 16th. He took the turn at three-over 79 and shot six-over 41 on the back nine. He returned the card that included four bogeys and three double bogeys against a lone birdie.

NGA President Tashi Ghale, who followed the golfers on the course, was satisfied with Rai’s performance and rued the missed birdie putts. “He hit the ball so nicely that I was amazed at times. He was near to perfect in his approach shots but he failed to make it from the greens. He was shot of the pin almost all attempts and at times he also three-putted,” said Ghale.

“If he can improve on his putting tomorrow, he has chances to make the cut,” Ghale added.

Ghale, however, criticised the approach of Karki. “I was shocked as he never looked at the yardage book and calculated the distance. He used wrong clubs at times and also did not take time to concentrate,” added Ghale.

Australian David Micheluzzi was at the top of the leaderboard with six-under 64, while three golfers Llyod Jefferson Go of the Philippines, Cheng Jin of China and Yung-Hua Liu of Chinese Taipei were tied for second at five-under 65. The cut will be applied after the second day with top 60 golfers making it to the final two rounds.

A total of 120 players from 40 countries are taking part in the 10th edition of the championship organised by Asia Pacific Golf Confederation, the Masters and R&A.

The winner of the Championship will earn tickets to the 2019 Masters Tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club and a place in The 148th Open at the Royal Portrush. The runner-up will seal berth in The Open Qualifying Series.

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