10th Nepal Amateur Open Nepal's Rahul shares lead with India's Shat

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, May 30: Nepal's Rahul Bishwakarma and India's Shat Mishra shared lead after first round of the 10th Nepal Amateur Open at par-72 Gokarna Golf Club on Wednesday.

Rahul and Shat carded 5-under 67 in the opening round and they are two strokes ahead of Nepal No 1 amateur golfer Sadbhav Acharya in men's individual event. Sadbhav opened the campaign with a round of 3-under 69.

Two other Nepali golfers, Vijay Shrestha Einhaus and Sashwat Pradhan are tied for fourth with India's Suraj Joshi and Bangladesh's Shahab Uddin at even-par 72.  Nepal's Wangchen Dhondup and defending champion Sumit Kotwal of India are tied for eighth at 1-over 73. Nepal's Gyan Bahadur Dhenga is 10th at 2-over 74.

In men's team event, Nepal 'B' and India share lead at 4-under 140. Rahul Bishwakarma (67) and Wangchen Dhondup (73) are tied with Shat Mishra (67) and Sumit Kotwal (73) after first round. 

Nepal A team of Sadbhav Acharya (69) and Tashi Tsering (76) is third at 1-over 145. Bangladesh (152) and Bhutan (153) are fourth and fifth respectively.

In women's section, Sri Lanka's Kaya Daluwatte carded 1-under 71 to take one-stroke lead over Nepal's Kashmira Shah and India's Kia Cris Kumar. Defending champion Kashmira and Dia carded even-par 72. 

India's Manvi Singhania is fourth at 1-over 73, while Ananthi Vivek of India is fifth at 5-over 77. Nepal's Tara Karki Chitrakar is sixth at 10-over 82. Nepal's Sushma Sigdel (84) and India's Anika Vivek (89) are seventh and eighth respectively. 

A total of 65 players from five countries -- Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Bhutan -- are competing in the 54-hole event, which is supported by National Sports Council, Nepal Tourism Board, Gokarna Forest Golf Resort and Hotel Royal Singi. 

Earlier, National Sports Council Member Secretary Tanka Lal Ghising inaugurated the tournament. NGA President Tashi Ghale and General Secretary Deepak Acharya among others were present on the occasion.