Sadbhav takes lead at Nepal Amateur Open Golf C'ship

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, June 4: Top Nepali golfer Sadbhav Acharya carded 6-under 66 to take two-stroke lead over Wangchen Dhondup on the first day of the 11th Nepal Amateur Open Golf Championship at the par-72 Gokarna Golf Club on Tuesday.

In the men’s individual category, three players, Nepal’s Rahul Biswakarma, India’s Sumit Kotwal and Bangladesh’s Md Shahab Uddin are tied for third at 2-under 70. 

Nepal’s Prakrit Tamang and Reshan Algama of Sri Lanka shared sixth position at even-par 72. Four players, Tashi Tsering of Nepal, Dechen Lhendup and Nim Dorji Tamang of Bhutan, and Vivaan Ubhayakar of India are tied for eighth position at 2-over 74.

In men’s team event, Nepal ‘A’ of Sadbhav and Rahul is at the top with the total score of 8-under 136. Sadbhav carded 6-under 66, while Rahul carded 2-under 70. They are 6-stroke ahead of Nepal ‘B’ of Wangchen and Tashi. Wangchen carded 4-under 48 and Tashi played 2-over 74 for total score of 2-under 142. Bangladesh team of Shofiqul Islam and Md Shahab Uddin is third at 3-over 145, followed by Bhutan (148) and Sri Lanka (150).

In the women’s individual section, India’s Ananthi Vivek carded 1-under 71 and took a 9-stroke lead over Nepal’s Tara Karki Chitrakar. Tara played 8-over 80. India’s Dia Cris Kumar is third at 84, followed by Nepal’s Anjila Yonjan (91) and Avanie Rai (94).

In U-16 category, Ruben Thapa is at the top with the score of 8-over 80. He is 10 strokes ahead of Dipson Lama, who played 18-over 90. Dipesh Shrestha is third at 93. A total of 57 players -- 51 in men’s section, seven in women’s section and five in U-16 section – are taking part in the three-day tournament organised by Nepal Golf Association. 

The team event winners will be declared after second day, while top 60 per cent will make it to the third and final round in individual category. Earlier, National Sports Council Member Secretary Tanka Lal Ghising inaugurated the tournament by hitting the first Tee shot.