Sadbhav Acharya
KATHMANDU, November 21: Amateur Sadbhav Acharya moved to the top of the Surya Nepal Central Open, the season-opening event under Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2023-24, at the par-72 Gokarna Golf Club on Tuesday.
The national team member Sadbhav carded four-under 68 for the 36-hole total of 10-under 134. He is three strokes ahead of pro Dinesh Prajapati, who carded seven-under 65 for the score of seven-under 137.
Pro Jayram Shrestha is third at five-under 139 after he carded three-under 69. Overnight leader, amateur Tashi Tsering played five-over 77 and slipped to fourth overall. Pro Dhana Bahadur Thapa is fifth overall and third among pros at one-under 143. Dhana played three-under 69.
Bhuvan Nagarkoti is sixth at even-par 144 after he carded one-under 71. Sanjay Lama (69) and Niraj Tamang (76) are tied for seventh at one-over 145, while Kumar Kami (71) and Pradip Kumar Lama (74) share the ninth place at 146.
Sadbhav carded three-under 33 on the front nine and played one-under 35 on the back nine. Sadbhav, who played six-under 66 on the first day, carded birdies on the fourth, sixth and seventh holes on the bogey-free front nine. He faced a bogey on the 10th before carding birdies on the 11th, 12th and 15th holes. He then dropped a shot on the final hole.
Pro Dinesh carded five-under 31 on the front nine and played two-under 34 on the back nine. He carded birdies on the first, third, fourth, sixth and seventh holes on a bogey-free front nine. After taking the turn, Dinesh dropped shots on the 12th and 14th holes against birdies on the 11th, 15th, 16th and 17th holes.
Pro Jayram also carded a bogey-free five-under 31 on the front nine but he faltered to two-over 38 on the back nine. He carded birdies on the first, third and seventh holes and sank an eagle on the third hole. On the back nine, Jayran carded birdies on the 11th and 16th holes but he faced a double bogey on the 14th and bogeys on the 13th and 17th holes.
Overnight leader Tashi played one-over 37 on the front nine and shot four-over 40 on the back nine. He faced a bogey on the first hole and suffered a double bogey on the ninth hole against birdies on the fourth and seventh holes. After taking the turn, Tashi carded a birdie on the 11th hole before suffering a triple bogey on the 13th and bogeys on the 16th and 18th holes.
Pro Dhana carded four-under 32 on the front nine and played one-over 37 on the back nine. He carded birdies on the third, seventh and ninth holes and dropped a shot on the eighth hole. On the back nine, Dhana dropped a shot on the 10th and faced a double bogey on the 17th against birdies on the 11th and 16th holes.
A total of 21 pros made the cut which was applied at 14-over 158. Ramesh Adhikari, Rabi Khadka, Bal Bhadra Rai, Toran Bikram Shahi, Bhuwan Kumar Rokka, Sunil KC, Deepak Magar, Rame Magar, Shivara Poudel, Pashupati Sharma, Bhu Bahadur Gurung, Dal Bahadur Lama and Tashi Ghale are the other pros who earned places in the final two rounds. Yubraj Bhujel, Amit Bogati and Udim Rai are three other amateurs in the final two rounds.
A total of 38 players are taking part in the event which carries a cash purse of Rs 840,000. After 36 holes, top 21 pros and all five amateurs will make the cut for the final two rounds. Top three pros will receive Rs 145,000, Rs 94,000 and Rs 70,000 respectively.
