10th Nepal Amateur Open: India win team event title
KATHMANDU, May 30: India won the team event title of the 10th Nepal Amateur Open at the par-72 Gokarna Golf Club in Kathmandu on Thursday.
India’s Shat Mishra and Sumit Kotwal posted 9-under 279 to register 11-stroke victory over Nepal B. The Nepal B team of Rahul Bishwakarma and Wangchen Dhondup finished second at 2-over 290, while Nepal A team of Sadbhav Acharya and Tashi Tsering finished third at 291. A total of five teams took part in the 36-hole competition.
In men’s individual section, India’s Shat opened up six-stroke lead over Nepal’s Rahul after second round. Shat carded 6-under 66 in the second round for 36-hole total of 11-under 133.
Nepal’s Rahul is second at 5-under 139 after he played even-par 72 in the second round. India’s Suraj Joshi and Nepal No 1 amateur golfer Sadbhav Acharya share the third place at 1-under 143. Suraj carded 1-under 71 and Sadbhav played 2-over 74 on the second day.
Defending champion Sumit Kotwal and Bangladesh’s Shahab Uddin are tied for fifth at 2-over 146. Sumit played 1-over 73 and Shahab played 2-over 74.
In women’s section, Sri Lankan Kaya Daluwatte extended her lead to six strokes over India’s Dia Cris Kumar. Kaya carded second straight 1-under 71 for total score of 2-under 142. Dia remained at second place after she played 4-over 76 for 36-hole total of 4-over 148. Indian duo Ananthi Vivek and Manvi Singhania share third place at 7-over 151.
Ananthi played 2-over 74 and Manvi shot 6-over 78. Defending champion Kashmira Shah of Nepal slipped to fifth at 12-over 156 after she played 12-over 84.
Men’s section leader Shat played second straight bogey-free round. He took the turn at 4-under 32 with the help of birdies on the third, fourth, fifth and seventh holes. He added two more birdies on the 11th and 13th holes to end the back nine at 2-under 34.
Rahul, who was joint leader with Shat on first day, played 1-over 37 on the front nine before carding 1-under 35 on the back nine. He dropped shots on the second, fourth and eighth against birdies on the third and sixth. On the back nine, Rahul carded birdies on the 11th and 12th holes and faced a bogey on the final hole.
Women’s section leader Kaya carded 2-under 34 on the front nine with the help of birdies on the third and ninth holes. She played 1-over 37 on the back nine after she carded a birdie on the 15th hole and faced a double bogey on the 17th hole.
Dia took the turn at 3-over 39 and played 1-over 37 on the back nine. Kashmira, who was joint second with Dia on first day, played even-par 36 on the front nine. She wasted seven shots on her way to playing 11 on the par-4 14th hole and settled for 12-over 48 on the back nine.
A total of 31 players in men’s section and eight golfers in women’s individual category made the cut for the final 18 holes. Players from five countries — Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Bhutan — are competing in the 54-hole event organised by Nepal Golf Association under the auspices of National Sports Council and Nepal Tourism Board. The event is supported by Gokarna Forest Golf Resort and Hotel Royal Singi.
