Pro Bhuvan, amateur Sadbhav share lead after day-II

KATHMANDU: Former top pro Bhuvan Nagarkoti and Nepal No 1 amateur golfer Sadbhav Acharya shared the lead after second round of Surya Nepal NPGA Tour Championship, sixth event under Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2023-24, at the par-72 Gokarna Golf Club on Tuesday.

Overnight joint leader Bhuvan carded 6-under 66 and Sadbhav carded an impressive bogey-free 8-under 64 for 36-hole total score of 9-under 135.

They are five strokes ahead of amateur golfer Vijay Shrestha Einhaus, who carded second consecutive 2-under 70 for the total score of 4-under 140.

Three pros, Yuvaraj Bhujel, Rabi Khadka and Niraj Tamang shared the fourth position at 1-under 143. Yuvaraj carded 1-under 71 in the second round, while Rabi and Niraj played 1-over 73 each. Bhuwan Kumar Rokka (70) and Bal Bhadra Rai (72) are tied for seventh at even-par 144, whereas Dinesh Prajapati is ninth at 1-over 145 after he carded 1-under 71 on the second day. Sanjay Lama (74) is 10th at 2-over 146.

Cut was applied at 13-over 157 with 23 pros and six amateurs making it to the final two rounds. Pros Jayram Shrestha, Bishnu Prasad Sharma, Rame Magar, Dhana Bahadur Thapa, Deepak Magar, Tanka Bahadur Karki, Ramesh Adhikari, Surya Prasad Sharma, Pashupati Sharma, Pradeep Kumar Lama, Sabin Sapkota, Ram Krishna Shrestha, Tashi Ghale, Shivaram Poudel and Krishna Man Rajbahak made the cut. In amateur section, Tashi Tsering, Rahul BK, Bharat Thapa Magar and Suresh Tamang made the cut.

Overnight joint leader Rahul slipped down to overall 13th after he faltered to 7-over 79.

Amateur Sadbhav carded 2-under 34 before firing 6-under 30 on the back nine. He carded birdies on the third and seventh holes before taking the turn. He then carded four birdies on the 10th, 11th, 14th and 16th holes and sank an eagle on the 12th with a brilliant putt from around 50 feet.

Pro Bhuvan fired seven birdies and faced a lone bogey. He carded 4-under 32 on the front nine before playing 2-under 34 on the back nine. He made a dream start with birdies on the first four holes and added fifth birdie on the seventh hole. He dropped a shot on the eighth before taking the turn. On the back nine, he carded birdies on the 11th and 15th holes.

Amateur Vijay carded 1-under 35 on both halves. On the front nine, he carded birdies on the third, seventh and ninth holes and faced two bogeys on the fourth and eighth holes. After taking the turn, he fired three birdies on the 10th, 15th and 18th holes and dropped shots on the 14th and 17th holes.

A total of 44 golfers — 32 pros and 12 amateurs — are taking part in the tournament organised by the PGA Nepal under the sponsorship of Surya Nepal Pvt Ltd. The tournament carries a cash purse of Rs 840,000. The winner of the event will bag Rs 140,000, the runner-up will earn Rs 96,000 and the third placed pro will get Rs 72,000. Other pros in top 21 will earn prize money.