Surya Nepal Eastern Open: Local pro Niraj extends lead after Day-II

DHARAN: Local pro Niraj Tamang extended the lead to seven strokes after the second round of the Surya Nepal Eastern Open, third event under Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2024-25, at the par-70 Dharan Golf Club on Thursday.

Niraj carded 4-under 66 in the second round to post 36-hole total of 12-under 128.

He is seven strokes ahead of Bishnu Prasad Sharma, who carded 3-under 67 to move up to second at 5-under 135. Another local pro Bal Bhadra Rai and Bhuwan Kumar Rokka are tied for third at 4-under 136. Former winner Bal Bhadra carded 3-under 67, while Bhuwan shot 1-under 69.

Dhana Bahadur Thapa slipped to fifth at 1-under 139 after he faltered to 3-over 73 in the second round. Rabi Khadka and Rame Magar are tied for sixth at even-par 140 after both of them carded 1-under 69.

Tanka Bahadur Karki and Bhuvan Nagarkoti share the eighth position at 2-over 142. Tanka carded 2-under 68, while Nepal No 1 pro Bhuvan shot 3-over 73. Dinesh Prajapati (70), Rajen Rai (70) and Sunil KC (72) are tied for 10thposition at 3-over 143.

A total of 21 pros and eight amateurs survived the cut that fell at 9-over 149. Ramesh Adhikari, Deepak Magar, Tham Bahadur Rai, Dal Bahadur Lama, Krishna Man Rajbahak, Yuvaraj Bhujel, Sanjay Lama, Surya Prasad Sharma and Sabin Sapkota are the other pros who progressed to the final round.

In amateur section, Suman Pariyar is at the top with the total score of even-par 140 and he is tied for sixth overall. Suman carded 2-under 68 in the second round to move four places up to the top.

He is two strokes ahead of overnight leader Sundar Rai, who played 4-over 74 and slipped to second at 142. Ram Tamang (70) and Suresh Tamang (73) are tied for third at 4-over 144, while Buddhi Man Sunuwar, Jitendra Rai, Kishor Basnet and Kaji Rai also made cut for the third and final round.

Leader Niraj took the turn at 2-under 34 and carded 2-under 32 on the back nine. He began the day with a bogey on the first hole but bounced back with birdies on the third, fifth and sixth holes. Niraj then carded three more birdies on the 14th, 16th and 17th holes and he dropped a shot on the 15th hole.

Bishnu saved pars on eight straight holes before carding a birdie on the ninth hole to take the turn at 1-under 35. He fired 2-under 32 on the back nine after he mixed four birdies with two bogeys.

Bishnu carded birdies on the 11th and 12th holes before facing bogeys on the 15th and 16th holes but he ended the day on a high with birdies on the last two holes.

Bal Bhadra carded an impressive 4-under 32 on the front nine but he played 1-over 35 on the back nine. He carded a total of six birdies on the second, third, seventh, eighth, ninth and 13th holes but he was undone by three bogeys on the fourth, 11th and 14th holes.

Bhuwan Rokka took the turn at 2-under 34 after he carded birdies on the third and fifth holes. He faced bogeys on the 11th and 15th holes before carding a lone birdie of the back nine on the last hole.

The event carries a cash purse of Rs 882,000. The champion will take home Rs. 150,000, while the runner-up will receive Rs. 100,000, and the third-place finisher will earn Rs. 75,000.

Additionally, the top 21 pros will secure a share of the prize money.