Amateur Tamang takes lead

Subash Tamang plays a shot during the second round of the Surya Nepal Premier Golf Championship at the Gokarna Golf Club in Kathmandu on Tuesday, May 14, 2019. Photo: THT

Kathmandu, May 14

Young amateur golfer Subash Tamang moved to the top of the leaderboard after the second round of the Surya Nepal Premier Golf Championship here at the Gokarna Golf Club today.

The 17-year-old Army Club golfer carded second straight three-under 69 to post the 36-hole total of six-under 138 in the ninth and final event under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2018-19. Overnight leader Jayaram Shrestha and amateur Sukra Bahadur Rai were two strokes off the pace at four-under 140. Shrestha settled for even-par 72, while Rai produced the best card of the round carding six-under 66.

Tamang, who was one shot behind leader Shrestha on the opening round, carded two-under 34 on the front nine and played one-under 35 after taking the turn. Tamang sank an eagle on the third hole and carded a birdie on the sixth against a bogey on the fifth. On the back nine, Tamang birdied the 11th and sank the second eagle of the round on the 15th hole. He was undone by bogeys on the 14th and 17th holes.

First-round leader Shrestha carded three birdies and as many bogeys as he settled for even-par 36 on both halves. He carded birdies on the fourth and ninth against bogeys on the third and eighth holes on the front nine. After taking the turn, Shrestha carded a birdie on the 12th and dropped a shot on the next.

Amateur Rai carded six birdies and an eagle on his way to finishing with three-under 33 on both halves. Rai, the winner of Surya Nepal Eastern Open, carded four birdies on the third, fourth, seventh and ninth against a line bogey on eighth hole. After taking the turn, Rai sank an eagle on the 11th and carded birdies on 12th and 14th before facing a bogey on the 15th hole.

Ramesh Adhikari was fourth at three-under 141 after he carded five-under 67. He carded a total of eight birdies but he went on to face three bogeys. He carded four-under 32 on the front nine that included birdies on the third, fourth, sixth, seventh and ninth holes against a bogey on the first. He the added three birdies on the 13th, 15th and 17th but he faced bogeys on 14th and 17th holes.

Defending champion Bhuwan Nagarkoti and Dhana Bahadur Thapa shared the fifth position at two-under 142. Nagarkoti, who has a chance to finish as Nepal No 1 pro in Order of Merit, carded five-under 67, while Thapa played three-under 69. Sanjok Moktan (70) and amateur Tanka Bahadur Karki (72) are seventh at one-under 143, followed by Rame Magar (73), Bikash Adhikari (73) and Surya Prasad Sharma (74) who shared the ninth position at even-par 144.

The cut was applied at 11-over 151 with 28 pros and nine amateurs making it to the final two rounds. The biggest event of the Tour carries a purse of Rs 1.26 million. Top three will receive Rs 230,000, Rs 140,000 and Rs 95,000 respectively.