Shrestha takes two-shot lead on Day-I

Jayaram Shrestha plays a shot on the first day of the Pilot Golfers NPGA Classic at the Gokarna Golf Club in Kathmandu on Wednesday. Photo: THT

Kathmandu, March 20

Jayaram Shrestha carded four-under 68 to take two-stroke lead on the first day of the Pilot Golfers NPGA Classic here at the Gokarna Golf Club today.

Shrestha was ahead of Dhana Thapa and Bhuwan Kumar Rokka, who shot two-under 70 each in the seventh event of the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2018-19. Ramesh Adhikari shared the fourth position with amateur golfer Tanka Bahadur Karki at one-under 71, while Sanjay Lama and amateur Binod Tamang were tied for sixth at even-par 72.

Leader Shrestha carded three-under 33 on the front nine before adding one-under 35 on the back nine. He shot birdies on the third, seventh and ninth holes before taking the turn. On the back nine, Shrestha carded four birdies but went on to face three bogeys on the 10th, 11th and 14th holes.

Army Club pro Thapa played one-under 35 on either half. Thapa carded three straight birdies from the second  but dropped shots on the first and eighth. On the back nine, Thapa faced a bogey on the 14th against birdies on the 11th and 17th holes.

Rokka carded two-under 34 before taking the turn and played even-par 36 on the back nine. He carded birdies on the fifth, sixth, seventh and ninth holes after he began the day with a double bogey. On the back nine, Rokka carded birdies on 11th and 17th against bogeys on 10th and 14th holes. Rajendra Shresth Pradhan was eighth at one-over 73, while RameMagar and Sachin Prasad Bhattarai shared the ninth position at two-over 74.

A total of 31 pros and seven amateur players are taking part in the tournament sponsored by Pilot Golfers Capt Rabindra Purush Dhakal, Capt Deepak Thapaliya and Capt Vijay Pratap Singh, in memory of Capt Badri K Shrestha, the first Nepali pilot who lost his life while serving the nation. Mrs Sabita Shrestha, daughter of Capt Shrestha, has joined the sponsors’ team for the betterment of the tournament. Gandaki Noodles, BB Airways, Air Arabia, and Himalayan Bank are the co-sponsors of the tournament.

The 54-hole event will be held at two different courses. Gokarna will host the first two days, while the final round will be played at Royal Nepal Golf Club. The event carries a cash purse of Rs 450,000 and top three pros will receive Rs 85,000, Rs 56,000 and Rs 37,000 respectively.

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