Bishnu Sharma takes lead as Surya Nepal Kathmandu Open heats up

KATHMANDU: Bishnu Sharma climbed to the top of the leaderboard after the second round of the Surya Nepal Kathmandu Open, the second event under Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2024-25, at the par-68 Royal Nepal Golf Club on Wednesday.

Bishnu carded 4-under 64 on the second day for a 36-hole total of 7-under 129. He is one stroke ahead of defending champion Niraj Tamang. Niraj remained in second place after carding his second consecutive 3-under 65 for 6-under 130. Nepal No 1 amateur No.dbhav Acharya carded 3-under 65 to move up to the overall third position at 5-under 131.

Dinesh Prajapati is fourth at 4-under 132 after he carded a bogey-free 5-under 63. Overnight leader Jayram Shrestha played 2-over 70 and he slipped to fifth at 2-under 134. Veteran pro Deepak Magar and amateur Rahul BK are tied for sixth at 1-under 135. Deepak played 1-under 67 and Rahul carded 3-under 65.

Dhana Bahadur Thapa and No 1 pro Bhuvan Nagarkoti share the eighth position at 1-over 137. Dhana carded 4-under 64 and Bhuvan shot 3-under 65 in the second round. Likewise, Rabi Khadka (68) and Pradip Kumar Lama (70) are tied for 10th place at 2-over 138.

Cut was applied at 13-over 149 and 22 pros and six amateurs made it to the final two rounds. Rame Magar, Basanta Raj Gurung, Toran Bikram Shahi, Ramesh Adhikari, Sanjay Lama, Rajendra Shrestha Pradhan, Kishan Kaliraj Sunar, Bal Bhadra Rai, Bhuwan Kumar Rokka, Tanka Bahadur Karki, Surya Prasad Sharma, Shivram Poudel and Bhimsen Chaulagain made the cut in pro section.

Leader Bishnu took the turn at a bogey-free 5-under 29 and he played 1-over 35 on the back nine. He carded birdies on the first, second and seventh hole and sank an eagle on the fourth hole. He then faced a bogey on the 10th hole and saved pars on eight other holes.

Defending champion Niraj carded 1-under 33 and shot 2-under 32 on the back nine. He began the round with an eagle on the first hole and carded a birdie on the fifth. But he faced bogeys on the second and sixth holes. After the turn, Niraj dropped a shot on the 10th hole before sinking the second eagle of the day on the 13th hole and carded a birdie on the 17th hole.

Amateur Sadbhav carded four birdies on the first, fourth, fifth and eighth holes and faced bogeys on the second and seventh holes to take the turn at 2-under 32. Sadbhav carded a birdie on the 17th hole and saved pars on eight holes to end the back nine at 1-under 33. Pro Dinesh carded five birdies on the first, second, fourth, eighth and 10th holes on his way to producing the best card of the day.

Sadbhav is four strokes ahead of Rahul in the amateur section. Balram Poudel, Kabi Thapa, Hari Bahadur Thapa and Gyan Bahadur Dhenga are other golfers who made the cut in amateur section.

A total of 45 golfers, 33 pros and 12 amateurs, are taking part in the tournament. The event boasts a total prize purse of Rs. 735,500.

The winner will take home Rs. 125,000, while the runner-up will earn Rs. 85,000, and third place will receive Rs. 68,000. Fourth and fifth places will be awarded Rs. 55,000 and Rs. 48,000, respectively. Other pros in top 21 will receive their share of cash prizes.