Surya Nepal Central Open: Toran maintains lead after third round

KATHMANDU, November 27: Toran Bikram Shahi maintained his lead after the third round of Surya Nepal Central Open, first event under Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2024-25, at the par-72 Gokarna Golf Club on Wednesday.

Toran carded 1-under 71 for 54-hole total score of 11-under 205. He is four strokes ahead of amateur duo Sadbhav Acharya and Rahul BK. Defending champion Sadbhav produced the best card of the day scoring 6-under 66 to move up to joint second place with Rahul, who carded 2-under 70, at 7-under 209.

Niraj Tamang is fourth at 4-under 212 after he carded 1-under 71, while top pro Bhuvan Nagarkoti faltered to 5-over 77 to drop two spots down to fifth at 1-under 215. Jayram Shrestha carded 1-under 71 to move up to sixth at even-par 216.

Four pros, Rabi Khadka, Krishna Man Rajbahak, Rajendra Thapa Magar and Sunil KC, are tied for seventh at 2-over 218. Rabi and Krishna Man carded 71 each, while Rajendra played 2-over 74. Sunil KC shot a forgettable 9-over 81 and he fell five places down in the leaderboard.

Overnight leader Toran carded 3-under 33 on the front nine but he could not maintain the momentum going on the back nine and settled for 2-over 38. He made a flying start with birdies on the first two holes and added two more on the fifth and sixth before facing the first bogey of the day on the ninth hole. After the turn, Toran faced bogeys on the 12th, 15th and 16th holes against a lone birdie on the 13th hole.

Sadbhav made a significant move in the leaderboard and he will be playing the round in the leaders’ group along with Toran and fellow amateur Rahul. Sadbhav carded 3-under 33 on both halves.

He carded three birdies on the first, third and seventh holes on the bogey-free front nine. He then carded four straight birdies on the 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th holes before facing the lone bogey of the round on the par-5 15th hole.

Rahul took the turn at 2-under 34 and played even-par 36 on the back nine. He carded birdies on the seventh and ninth holes on the bogey-free front nine. He then dropped a shot on the 11th hole and carded a birdie on the 15th hole.

Dharan pro Niraj played 1-over 37 on the front nine after he faced a bogey on the first hole and saved eight straight pars. He carded 2-under 34 on the back nine with the help of birdies on the 12th, 15th and 17th holes. He faced a bogey on the 16thhole.

In amateur section, Vijay Einhaus Shrestha is a distant third at 7-over 223 after he played 6-over 78. Surendra Phuyal is further five shots behind at fourth with the score of 12-over 228, followed by Gajendra Gurung (232) and Balaram Poudel (243).

A total of 47 players took part in the season-opening tournament under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2024-25. The tournament carries a cash purse of Rs 882,000.

The top three pros will receive Rs 150,000, Rs 100,000 and Rs 75,000 respectively, while other pros in top 21 will get their share of cash prizes.