Amateur Rahul clinches Surya Nepal Premier Golf Championship title

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, June 20: Amateur golfer Rahul Biswakarma claimed the title at the Surya Nepal Premier Golf Championship, the eighth and final event of the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2024–25, held at the par-72 Gokarna Golf Club.

Rahul fired a 5-under 67 in the final round to finish at 21-under 267, securing a two-stroke victory over Nepal’s top professional, Bhuvan Nagarkoti, and lifting his second title of the season. The 20-year-old amateur had earlier won the season-opening Surya Nepal Central Open for his maiden career major.

Bhuvan delivered back-to-back rounds of 8-under 64 to finish at 19-under 269, topping the professional category and earning a prize of Rs 300,000.

Nepal’s No. 1 amateur Sadbhav Acharya secured third place overall and second among amateurs with a total of 18-under 270 after a final round of 67. Defending champion Subash Tamang finished fourth overall and second among professionals at 15-under 273, closing with an even-par 72 to collect Rs 185,000.

Nim Dorji Tamang of Bhutan claimed fifth place overall and third among amateurs with 14-under 274, carding 66 on the final day. Niraj Tamang finished sixth overall and third among professionals at 10-under 278 after a 73, bagging Rs 125,000. 

Niraj also topped the season’s Order of Merit with total earnings of Rs 867,500 and three titles, cementing his status as Nepal’s No. 1 pro.

Dinesh Prajapati followed in seventh place overall and fourth among pros with 9-under 279, earning Rs 105,000. Sukra Bahadur Rai secured eighth overall and fifth among pros at 8-under 280, carding 67 in the final round for a prize of Rs 92,000.

Sanjay Lama and amateur Wangchen Dhondup tied for ninth at 3-under 285. Sanjay, who shot 72, was sixth among pros and took home Rs 84,000, while Wangchen (70) ended fourth among amateurs.

Other pros finishing in the top 10 included Rabi Khadka, Dhana Bahadur Thapa, Jayram Shrestha, and Toran Bikram Shahi.

Rahul, who began the day with a one-shot lead over Subash, extended his margin to five strokes by the turn, carding a 5-under 31 with birdies on holes 1, 3, 6, 7, and 9. He matched the tournament record of 23-under with birdies on 11 and 12 but slipped with a double bogey on 14 to finish the back nine in even-par 36.

Bhuvan produced the day's best round for the second day running, carding 5-under 31 on the front with an eagle on the third and birdies on 4, 7, and 9. He added 3-under 33 on the back nine, including four birdies (11, 12, 15, and 17) and a bogey on the 14th.

Sadbhav shot even-par 36 on the front despite a double bogey on the third and a bogey on the eighth, offset by three birdies. He bounced back with a strong back nine, carding 5-under 31, highlighted by an eagle on 12 and birdies on 11, 14, and 15.