Rabi wins Surya Nepal Challenge, claims 12th career title

KATHMANDU: Rabi Khadka won the Surya Nepal Challenge, fifth event under Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2023-24, at the par-68 Royal Nepal Golf Club on Thursday.

Former Nepal No 1 pro Rabi carded 4-under 64 in the final round for a 72-hole total of 8-under 264.

He defeated defending champion amateur golfer Sadbhav Acharya by seven strokes to claim his 12th career title.

Along with the trophy, Rabi received Rs 100,000. It took him seven years to end the drought as he had not won a title since winning the Surya Nepal NPGA Match Play in 2017.

Sadbhav, who had three-stroke advantage over Rabi going into the final round, ended up as amateur section winner after he faltered to 6-over 74 in the final round for 1-under 271 total. Nepal No 1 amateur Sadbhav – who had become the youngest winner in the Surya Nepal Golf Tour by winning the Surya Nepal Challenge last year — finished second overall.

He beat Tashi Tsering by eight strokes in the amateur section, while Rahul BK finished third at 280 after he carded 1-under 67.

Three golfers Dinesh Prajapati, Deepak Magar and Dhana Bahadur Thapa were third overall and they shared second position among pros at 1-over 273. Dinesh carded 4-under 64, Deepak played 1-over 69 and Dhana played 3-over 71 in the final round and they earned Rs 51,667 each.

Rame Magar came fifth at 4-over 276 after he carded even-par 68 and he received Rs 36,000. Four pros, Bhuvan Nagarkoti, Sanjay Lama, Bhuwan Kumar Rokka and Jayram Shrestha shared the sixth position at 5-over 277 and they earned Rs 27,875 each.

Ramesh Adhikari (74) was 10th at 12-over 284 and he received Rs 21,000.

Rabi carded 2-under 32 on both halves. He took a one-stroke lead after Sadbhav played 2-over 36 on the front nine. And Rabi opened up a six-shot advantage with an eagle on the 10th hole after Sadbhav suffered a triple bogey on the par-5 hole.

Rabi made a flying start with two birdies on the first and second holes and added two more on the fourth and eighth holes. He faced bogeys on the third and seventh holes before taking the turn.

On the back nine, Rabi dropped a shot on the 17th hole against an eagle on the 10th hole and a birdie on the final hole. Sadbhav also began the day with a birdie but he faced a double bogey on the third and dropped a shot on the eighth hole.

On the back nine, Sadbhav faced a triple bogey on the 10th hole, a double bogey on the 12th hole and a bogey on the 15th hole. He carded birdies on the 13th and 14th holes.

Dinesh carded 2-under 32 on both halves. He carded five birdies on the first, fourth, eighth, 10th and 15th holes and faced a lone bogey on the seventh hole.

Veteran pro Deepal faced four bogeys on the fifth, ninth, 15th and 17th holes against three birdies on the first, seventh and 13th holes.

Likewise, Dhana suffered two double bogeys on the 10th and 18th holes and faced bogeys on the third, eighth and ninth holes. He carded four birdies on the first, 11th, 13th and 15th holes.

A total of 42 golfers – 31 pros and 11 amateurs – took part in the tournament which carried a cash purse of Rs 572,250.

Surya Nepal Pvt Ltd Vice-president (Marketing) Dipra Lahiri, Advisor of PGA Nepal Ghana Shyam Thapa, RNGC President Madhukar Yakthumba, Captain Mithun Rai, and Treasurer Roshan Rai handed over prizes to the winners.