Rabi wins Surya Nepal Challenge, claims 12th career title

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Mar. 8: Rabi Khadka won the Surya Nepal Challenge, fifth event under Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2023-24, at the par-68 Royal Nepal Golf Club 

on Thursday.

Former Nepal No 1 pro Rabi carded 4-under 64 in the final round for a 72-hole total of 8-under 264. 

He defeated defending champion amateur golfer Sadbhav Acharya by seven strokes to claim his 12th career title. Along with the trophy, Rabi received Rs. 100,000. It took him seven years to end the drought as he had not won a title since winning the Surya Nepal NPGA Match Play in 2017.

Sadbhav, who had three-stroke advantage over Rabi going into the final round, ended up as amateur section winner after he faltered to 6-over 74 in the final round for 1-under 271 total. 

Nepal No 1 amateur Sadbhav – who had become the youngest winner in the Surya Nepal Golf Tour by winning the Surya Nepal Challenge last year -- finished second overall. He beat Tashi Tsering by eight strokes in the amateur section, while Rahul BK finished third at 280 after he carded 1-under 67.

Three golfers Dinesh Prajapati, Deepak Magar and Dhana Bahadur Thapa were third overall and they shared second position among pros at 1-over 273. Dinesh carded 4-under 64, Deepak played 1-over 69 and Dhana played 3-over 71 in the final round and they earned Rs 51,667 each.

Rame Magar came fifth at 4-over 276 after he carded even-par 68 and he received Rs 36,000. Four pros, Bhuvan Nagarkoti, Sanjay Lama, Bhuwan Kumar Rokka and Jayram Shrestha shared the sixth position at 5-over 277 and they earned Rs 27,875 each. Ramesh Adhikari (74) was 10th at 12-over 284 and he 

received Rs 21,000.

A total of 42 golfers – 31 pros and 11 amateurs – took part in the tournament which carried a cash purse of Rs 572,250. Surya Nepal Pvt Ltd Vice-president (Marketing) Dipra Lahiri, Advisor of PGA Nepal Ghana Shyam Thapa, RNGC President Madhukar Yakthumba, Captain Mithun Rai, and Treasurer Roshan Rai handed over prizes to the winners.