Surya Nepal Premier Golf Championship: Subash defends title, takes major tally to six

KATHMANDU: Subash Tamang won the title of the Surya Nepal Premier Golf Championship, the eighth and final event under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2023-24, at the par-72 Gokarna Golf Club on Friday.

Subash carded 4-under 68 in the final round for the total score of 16-under 272. He registered two-stroke victory over Bhuvan Nagarkoti and Niraj Tamang. Subash won the first title as a professional golfer to take his major tally to six and received prize money of Rs 275,000.

Bhuvan carded 3-under 69 in the final round and Niraj carded a bogey-free 5-under 67 to finish joint second with the total score of 14-under 274. They received Rs 148,500 each. Dinesh Prajapati finished fourth at career-best 12-under 276 after he carded second straight 1-under 71.

Toran came fifth at 6-under 282 after he carded even-par 72 and earned Rs 88,000. Sanjay Lama carded 2-under 70 in the final round to finish sixth at 2-under 286 and he received Rs 80,000. Tanka Bahadur Karki and Jayram Shrestha finished joint seventh at even-par 288 and they earned Rs 71,500 each. Tanka carded second straight 3-under 69 and Jayram faltered to 4-over 76.

Rabi Khadka finished ninth at 1-over 289 after he carded 3-under 69 in the final round and earned Rs 64,000. Rame Magar was 10th at 6-over 294 and he got Rs 59,000.

Sadbhav Acharya won the amateur section title with the score of 8-under 280. The Nepal No 1 amateur played 1-over 73 in the final round and he recorded two-stroke victory over Vijay Shrestha Einhaus. Vijay carded 1-under 71 in the final round to finish second at 6-under 282. Tenzing Palden finished third at 2-under 286 after he carded 2-under 70 in the final round.

Subash and Bhuvan were tied at 13-under after the completion of front nine and Bhuvan took lead on the 10th with a birdie. Bhuvan extended the lead to two strokes after Subash faced a bogey on the 11th hole. Subash cut the deficit to one stroke with an eagle on the 12th hole after Bhuvan carded a birdie. Par-4 17th hole was the turning point of the match where Bhuvan faced a double bogey and Subash saved a par to take one-stroke lead. Subash carded a birdie on the final hole to record two-stroke victory.

Subash took the turn at 1-under 35 after he dropped a shot on the second against birdies on the first and third holes. He carded 3-under 33 on the back nine. Subash dropped a shot on the 11th hole before sinking an eagle on the 12th and carding birdies on the 13th and 18th holes. Bhuvan took the turn at 2-under 34 and carded 1-under 35 on the back nine. He dropped shots on the second and eighth holes against birdies on the third, sixth, seventh and ninth holes. On the back nine, Bhuvan carded three birdies on the 10th, 12th and 13th holes before facing a double bogey on the 17th hole. Niraj carded 1-under 35 on the front nine and carded 4-under 32 on the back nine with the help of birdies on the seventh, 10th, 12th, 14th and 18th holes.

A total of 37 pros and 11 amateurs took part in the flagship event of the season. The event carried a cash purse if Rs 1.55 million. Top 21 pros received their share of cash prizes. Out of the eight tournaments played in the season, amateur golfer Sadbhav Acharya won two titles, while Dinesh Prajapati, Sukra Bahadur Rai, Bhuvan Nagarkoti, Rabi Khadka, Niraj Tamang and Subash Tamang won one each.

Managing Director of Surya Nepal Pvt Ltd Ravi Kumar Rayavaram and PGA Nepal President Rabindra Man Shrestha handed over prizes to the winners. The tournament will conclude with Pro-Am event on Saturday where more than 100 golfers from corporate sector will run their shoulder with 25 pros.