Bhuvan, Niraj sail into quarter-finals at NPGA Match Play

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Apr. 9: Reigning Nepal No. 1 Bhuvan Nagarkoti and No. 2 Niraj Tamang have advanced to the quarter-finals of the Surya Nepal NPGA Match Play, the sixth event of the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2024-25, held at the par-68 Royal Nepal Golf Club on Tuesday.

Bhuvan and Niraj recorded the most commanding victories of the first-round matches, both securing wins with a margin of 5&4 against the Sharma brothers—Pashupati and Surya Prasad.

Defending champion Dinesh Prajapati, along with Dhana Bahadur Thapa, Rabi Khadka, Pradip Kumar Lama, Toran Bikram Shahi, and Rame Magar, also sealed their spots in the last eight.

Top-seeded Bhuvan triumphed over No. 16 Pashupati Sharma on the 14th hole, closing the match after going 5-up with four holes remaining. 

No. 2 Niraj mirrored the feat, dispatching No. 15 Surya Prasad Sharma on the same hole. Third-seed Dinesh earned a decisive 4&3 victory against No. 14 Ramesh Adhikari.

No. 8 Dhana Bahadur Thapa edged past No. 9 Bhuwan Kumar Rokka on the final hole, while No. 4 Rabi outmaneuvered No. 13 Tanka Bahadur Karki 3&2. 

Meanwhile, No. 12 Pradip Kumar Lama upset fifth-seeded Sanjay Lama 2&1, and No. 11 Toran Bikram Shahi toppled No. 6 Jayram Shrestha with a solid 3&2 win. 

In the head-to-head battle of siblings, No. 7 Rame Magar defeated No. 10 Deepak Magar 4&3.

In Wednesday's quarter-finals, No. 1 Bhuvan will square off against No. 8 Dhana Bahadur Thapa, and No. 4 Rabi Khadka will face No. 12 Pradip Kumar Lama.

 No. 11 Toran Bikram Shahi is set to take on No. 3 Dinesh Prajapati, while No. 7 Rame Magar will challenge No. 2 Niraj Tamang.

The semi-finals and quarter-finals will unfold on Thursday, culminating in a thrilling 36-hole final and a third-place playoff scheduled for Friday.

The tournament, featuring 16 professional golfers ranked by the Order of Merit of the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2023-24, is contested in a match-play format.