Sadbhav Acharya
KATHMANDU, November 23: Amateur golfer Sadbhav Acharya registered a seven-stroke victory over pro Dinesh Prajapati to win the Surya Nepal Central Open, the season-opening event under Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2023-24, at the par-72 Gokarna Golf Club on Thursday.
National team member, Sadbhav carded three-under 69 in the fourth and final round to post the 72-hole total of 17-under 271 and claimed his second major title. Sadbhav is the youngest winner in the Surya Nepal Golf Tour, after he bagged the Surya Nepal Challenge in the previous season for his maiden title.
Dinesh finished first among pros with the total score of 10-under 278 after he carded even-par 72 in the final round. He received the winner’s cheque of Rs 145,000. Bhuvan Nagarkoti (72) finished third overall and second among pros with the total score of seven-under 281, while Sanjay Lama (74) was fourth overall at even-par 288. Bhuvan received Rs 84,000 and Sanjay earned Rs 70,000.
Niraj Tamang carded even-par 72 to finish fifth overall with the score of two-over 290 and he earned Rs 58,000. First-round leader, Tashi Tsering finished sixth overall and runner-up among amateurs with the score of three-over 291. Tashi played three-over 75 in the final round.
Rabi Khadka (72) came seventh overall and fifth among pros with the score of four-over 292 and he got Rs 50,000. Jayram Khadka finished sixth among pros at 293 after he played seven-over 79. Jayram earned Rs 42,500.
Dhana Bahadur Thapa (78) and Toran Bikram Shahi (69) shared ninth place with the score of 294. They received Rs 37,250 each. Bhuwan Kumar Rokka finished 11th overall and ninth among pros at 296 and he got Rs 33,000, while Kumar Kami came 10th among pros at 298 and he earned Rs 31,000.
Winner Sadbhav carded one-under 35 on the front nine and played two-under 34 on the back nine. He began the day four strokes ahead of pro Dinesh but he saw the lead cut down to one shot after the first three holes. Sadbhav faced bogeys on the first two holes and carded a birdie, while Dinesh sank an eagle on the third. But Sadbhav came back strongly with birdies on the fourth and sixth holes, whereas Dinesh faced four bogeys on the fourth, sixth, eighth and ninth holes.
Dinesh ended the front nine at two-over 38 that gave a seven-stroke advantage to Sadbhav going into the back nine. Sadbhav carded four straight birdies on the 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th holes before dropping shots on the 14th and 16th holes. Dinesh, on the other hand, carded three birdies on the 10th, 11th and 17th holes and faced a bogey on the 14th hole to finish the back nine at two-under 34.
Former Nepal No 1 pro, Bhuvan played one-over 37 on the front nine and carded one-under 35 on the back nine. He faced a bogey on the second and a double bogey on the sixth against birdies on the third and seventh hole before taking the turn.
On the back nine, Bhuvan carded birdies on the 11th and 18th holes and dropped a shot on the 15th hole. Likewise, Sanjay faced three bogeys on the second, seventh and eighth holes, while he carded the lone birdie of the day on the final hole.
A total of 38 golfers, 33 pros and five amateurs, took part in the event that carried a cash purse of Rs 840,000. Surya Nepal Pvt Ltd Vice-president (Marketing) Dipra Lahiri and Nepal Golf Association President Tashi Ghale handed over prizes to the winners of the tournament.
