Surya Nepal Kathmandu Open concludes, Niraj Tamang wins maiden career title

KATHMANDU: Niraj Tamang recorded a one-stroke victory over Bhuvan Nagarkoti to win the title of the Surya Nepal Kathmandu Open, seventh event under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2023-24, at the par-68 Royal Nepal Golf Club on Friday.

Niraj carded record-equaling 8-under 60 in the final round for the total score of 8-under 264 and he claimed the maiden career title along with a pay cheque of Rs 120,000.

Niraj levelled the course record of 8-under with Shivaram Shrestha, who played 8-under 59 in the NPGA President’s Cup in 2015.

He was seven strokes behind Bhuvan going into the final round but played a superb round to edge Bhuvan by one shot. Bhuvan played even-par 68 in the final round to finish second at 7-under 265 and he earned Rs 82,000.

Jayram Shrestha moved to third at 1-under 271 after he carded 4-under 64. He received Rs 66,000. Toran Bikram Shahi finished fourth at even-par 272 after he carded even-par 68 in the final round and earned Rs 53,000. Dhana Bahadur Thapa played even-par 68 to finish fifth at 2-over 274 and he got Rs 45,000.

Subash Tamang played 1-over 59 in the final round and he finished sixth at 4-over 276 in the first tournament as a professional golfer.

Subash earned Rs 39,000 as his first pay cheque since turning pro in February from the Professional Golf Tour of India. Dinesh Prajapati and Rabi Khadka shared the seventh place at 277 and they earned Rs 33,500 each.

Rame Magar was ninth at 278 and he earned Rs 28,000, while Sanjay Lama and Bhuwan Kumar Rokka shared the 10th position at 279 and they got Rs 24,000 each.

Sadbhav Acharya won the amateur section with the total score of 13-over 285. He played 7-over 75 in the final round and recorded 10-stroke victory over Tashi Tsering, who played 12-over 80 in the final round for 23-over 295. National team member Rahul BK was third at 28-over 300.

Niraj took the turn at 5-under 29 to cut the deficit to one stroke after Bhuvan played 1-over 35. Niraj leveled the scores with a birdie on the 10th hole, while he was two-stroke ahead after 14th hole. Niraj carded 3-under 31 on the back nine, while Bhuvan carded 1-under 33.

He made a flying start in the final round with four consecutive birdies on the first, second, third and fourth holes and added another on the ninth hole. After taking the turn, Niraj carded four birdies on the 10th, 13th, 14th and 17th holes and he faced a lone bogey of the day on the 16thhole.

Bhuvan carded four birdies on the second, fourth, 11th and 18th holes, while he suffered a double bogey on the third hole and faced bogeys on the fifth and 12th holes. Jayram carded 2-under 32 on both halves. He carded six birdies on the second, fourth, eighth, 13th, 14th and 17th holes and dropped shots on the ninth and 16th holes.

A total of 41 golfers – 32 pros and nine amateurs – took part in the tournament which carried a cash purse of Rs 703,500. Surya Nepal Pvt Ltd Vice-president (Marketing) Dipra Lahiri, Nepal Golf Association President Tashi Ghale and RNGC Captain Mithun Rai handed over prizes to the winners.