Sukra wins Surya Nepal Central Open

Kathmandu, 14 January (2022) - Sukra Bahadur Rai won the Surya Nepal Central Open, the third event of Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2021-22, at the par-72 Gokarna Golf Club on Friday.

Sukra carded one-over 73 for the 72-hole total score of 10-under 278 to register one-shot victory over Rabi Khadka. Rabi carded four-under 68 for the total score of nine-under 279.  Bhuwan Nagarkoti finished third in the tournament after scoring even-par 72 on the final day for a total of six-under 282.

Sukra took home a cash prize of Rs. 135,000, while Rabi earned Rs. 88,000 and Bhuwan took home Rs. 65,000.

Amateur Subash Tamang was overall fourth and won the amateur trophy with the score of four-under 284, he carded even-par 72 on the final day. Sadbhav Acharya was amateur runner-up and seventh overall with the score of five-over 293, he carded three-over 75 on the last day.

Rame Magar was fourth among professionals with the total score of one-over 289, he carded one-over 73 today to earn Rs. 53,500. Niraj Tamang was fifth among professionals with the total score of four-over 292, he carded one-under 73 to bag a cash prize of Rs. 45,000. Jayaram Shrestha was sixth among professionals after carding one-under today for total score of nine-over 297 to earn Rs. 40,000.

Bal Bhadra Rai (74) and Sanjay Lama (73) finished joint seventh among professionals with total score of 15-over 303 and took home Rs. 34,500 each. Surya Prasad Sharma came ninth among pros with the total score of 18-over 306 and earned Rs. 31,000. Dhana Bahadur Thapa was 10th with the score of 19-over 307 and bagged cash prize of Rs. 29,000.

Sukra began day with six-strokes lead over Rabi Khadka and Bhuwan Nagarkoti, Bhuwan was penalized one-stroke for wrongly placing the ball on the third round. Rabi made birdies on the first, third, sixth, seventh holes to bring down the lead to two-strokes then Rabi made a bogey on the eighth hole which gave three-strokes lead to Sukra before the last nine-holes.

Rabi sank a birdie on the 11th hole to close the gap to two-stroke. And on the 14th hole Sukra made bogey and Rabi made double-bogey so the lead for Sukra extended to three-strokes. Then Rabi charged back by making birdies on 15th and 17th holes and Sukra had only one-shot lead going into the last hole. Rabi safely hit the ball on the lower part of the green on the 18th hole and Sukra's ball fell in the front bunker after second shot. Rabi's long birdie attempt slide by the hole and Sukra saved par on the 72nd hole for his sixth title overall.

A total of 58 golfers – record 39 pros and 19 amateurs -- took part in the event organized by Nepal Professional Golfers Association under the sponsorship of Surya Nepal Pvt Ltd. Asst Brand Manager Surya Nepal Pvt. Ltd. Navin Saroj and PGA Nepal Advisor Ghana Shyam Thapa handed over the prizes to the winners.