Surya Nepal Western Open tees off today

Pokhara, January 29

The Surya Nepal Western Open, the fifth event under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2018-19, is beginning here at the par-70 Himalayan Golf Course on Wednesday.

A total of 57 golfers — 33 pros and 24 amateurs — will take part in the 54-hole tournament at the one of the toughest courses of the region, informed Nepal PGA in a release today. The tournament will conclude with the Pro-Am event on Saturday.

“All the professional and top amateur golfers of the country have already arrived in Pokhara and got acclimatised to the playing condition of the most adventurous Himalayan Golf Course. The course set in the backdrops of majestic Mt Machhapuchre and rested in the ravine alongside Bijayapur River is certainly going to test the skills of all the top notch golfers,” said the NPGA.

The tournament carries a total cash purse of Rs 661,500 and the winner will be richer by Rs 120,000. The second and third places pros will earn Rs 77,000 and Rs 55,000 respectively. Other pros in top 21 will also get their share of cash prizes.

Dhana Thapa will be looking to defend the title, while No 1 pro Shivaram Shrestha aims at taking the revenge of last year’s loss in playoff. Shrestha has already won three titles in the current season, while he finished at the top among the pros in another event —Surya Nepal Eastern Open which was won by amateur golfer Sukra Bahadur Rai in Dharan.

No 2 ranked Bhuwan Nagarkoti, Sanjay Lama and Rame Magar are expected to give a tough fight. National team members Sukra Bahadur Rai and Tanka Bahadur Karki along with young Subash Tamang will also be contesting for the title. Local amateurs Ajit BK and Suresh Tamang will also be in fray.

“Himalayan Golf course — rated as one of the most adventurous golf courses in the world by Golf Digest — has been tweaked to its best standard and awaiting to punish the best players of the game,” the NPGA added.

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