Sukra wins Surya Nepal Western Open
POKHARA, February 24: Nepal No pro Sukra Bahadur Rai won the Surya Nepal Western Open, the fourth event under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2022-23, at the par-69 Himalayan Golf Course in Pokhara on Friday.
Sukra carded a solid five-under 64 in the final round to register a two-stroke victory over defending champion amateur golfer Subash Tamang. Sukra was tied for fifth after the second round but he produced the best card of the tournament for the 54-hole total of one-under 206. Sukra claimed his second title of the season along with a cheque of Rs 140,000. Sukra took his major career tally to nine.
Top amateur golfer, Subash played two-over 71 in the final round and finished second overall with the score of one-over 208. He bagged the amateur section title with a thumping 14-stroke victory over local amateur Ajit BK, who played six-over 75 in the final round for a total score of 15-over 222.
First-round leader Bhuvan Nagarkoti and Sanjay Lama shared the second position among pros with the total score of three-over 210. Bhuvan played three-over 72 in the final round, while Sanjay played two-over 71. They earned Rs 78,500 each. Jayaram Shrestha finished fourth at 212 after he carded even-par 69 and he received Rs 55,000.
Rame Magar (74) came fifth at six-over 213 and he got Rs 47,000, while Bhuwan Kumar Rokka (70) was sixth at nine-over 216 and he received Rs 40,500. Winner of the previous event, Dinesh Prajapati finished seventh at 218 after he carded one-over 70 and he earned Rs 37,000. Dal Bahadur Lama (77) and Dhana Bahadur Thapa (73) shared the eighth place at 12-over 219. They earned Rs 33,000 each. Likewise, Rabi Khadka and Niraj Tamang were tied for 10th at 220 and they received Rs 28,500 each.
Sukra was five strokes behind leader Subash going into the final round but he made a strong comeback. He carded one-under 33 on the front nine and played impressive four-under 31 on the back nine. He dropped shots on the second and fifth holes against birdies on the third, sixth and ninth holes. He then carded four birdies on the 12th, 14th, 15th and 17th holes in the bogey-free four-under 31.
Amateur Subash played one-over 35 on the front nine and shot one-over 36 on the back nine. He faced bogeys on the second and fifth holes against a birdie on the third. After taking the turn, Subash carded a birdie on the 10th hole but dropped shots on the 13th and 17th holes.
Bhuvan, who was one stroke behind leader Subash, carded even-par 34 on the front nine before faltering to three-over 38 on the back nine. He began the day with a bogey and faced two more bogeys on the third and eighth holes but he recovered with birdies on the fourth, sixth and ninth holes. He then dropped shots on the 12th, 15th and 16th holes.
Sanjay took the turn at two-over 37 before carding one-under 34 on the back nine. He faced two bogeys on the second and sixth and a double bogey on the ninth against a lone birdie on the third hole. Lama then dropped a shot on the 12th hole and sank an eagle on the 17th hole.
A total of 45 golfers тАУ 31 pros and 14 amateurs тАУ took part in the tournament organized by the Professional Golfers Association Nepal under the sponsorship of Surya Nepal Pvt Ltd. Nepal PGA President Rabindra Man Shrestha, Nepal Golf Association President Tashi Ghale and Regional Sales Manager of Surya Nepal Prakash KC handed over the prizes to the winners.
The 23rd edition of the Surya Nepal Western Open will conclude with Pro-Am event on Saturday. A total of 60 amateur golfers will rub shoulders with 15 professional golfers.
