Surya Nepal NPGA Tour Championship: Toran maintains the lead on Day- 2

KATHMANDU: Toran Bikram Shahi maintained his lead at the top of Surya Nepal NPGA Tour Championship, the fifth event under Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2024-25, at the par-72 Gokarna Golf Club on Wednesday.

Toran carded 4-under 68 for 36- hole total score of 11-under 133. He is three strokes ahead of Niraj Tamang. Niraj produced the best card of the day, firing a bogey-free 5-under 67 to stay at the second place with total score of 8-under 136.

Tanka Bahadur Karki and Dinesh Prajapati are tied for third at 2-under 142 after both pros carded even-par 72. Three pro, Nepal No 1 Bhuvan Nagarkoti, Ramesh Adhikari and Jayram Shrestha share the fifth place at 1-under 143.

Bhuvan carded 2-under 70 in the second round to move up in the leaderboard, while Ramesh carded 1-under 71 and Jayram played 1-over 73.

Sanjay Lama (145), Rame Magar (146) and Surya Prasad Sharma (147) are in top 10. Cut fell at 13-over 157 with 22 pros and four amateur golfers making it to the final two rounds.

Bhuwan Kumar Rokka, Pradip Kumar Lama, Sunil KC, Deepak Magar, Bhu Bahadur Gurung, Bal Bhadra Rai, Dhan Bahadur Thapa, Rabi Khadka, Suresh Tamang, Shivaram Poudel, Bhimsen Chaulagain and Rajendra Shrestha Pradhan are the other pros who made the cut.

In amateur section, Rahul Bishwakarma earned a share of lead with Nepal No 1 Sadbhav Acharya at even-par 144. Rahul carded 3-under 69 with the help of five birdies and an eagle on par-4 14th hole, while Sadbhav played second straight even-par 72. Babu Kumar Poudel and Kabi Thapa also made the cut.

Leader Toran carded 3-under 33 on the front nine and 1-under 35 on the back nine. He began the round with a bogey on the first hole but bounced back strongly with four birdies on the second, third, seventh and ninth holes.

After taking the turn, Toran dropped shots on the 10th and 12th holes against three birdies on the 13th, 17th and 18th holes.

Niraj carded 4-under 32 on the front nine with the help of birdies on the third, fifth, sixth and seventh holes. He carded 1-under 35 on the back nine that included a birdie on the 12th holes.

Tanka carded 1-under 35 on the front nine and he played 1-over 37 on the back nine, while Dinesh played 2-over 38 on the back nine after taking the turn at 2-under 34.

A total of 39 golfers – 30 pros and 9 amateurs – are taking part in the tournament organized by PGA Nepal under the sponsorship of Surya Nepal Pvt. Ltd. The tournament carries a cash purse of Rs 882,000.

The winner of the event will bag Rs 150000, the runner-up will earn Rs 100,000 and the third-place pro will get Rs 75000. Other pros in top 21 will also earn their share of prize money.