Niraj defends Surya Nepal Eastern Open title

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Jan. 17: Niraj Tamang defended the title of the Surya Nepal Eastern Open, the second event under Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2025-26 at the par-70 Dharan Golf Club on Friday.

Niraj carded 3-under 67 in the third and final round for 54-hole total score of 15-under 195. He registered a 6-stroke victory over amateur golfer Rahul Bishwakarma to claim his fourth career title. With the victory, Niraj received Rs. 170,000.

Rahul finished second overall and won the amateur section title with the total score of 9-under 201 after he carded 2-under 68 in the final round.  Veteran pro Bal Bhadra Rai finished second among pros after he carded 5-under 65 in the final round for total score of 6-under 204. He earned Rs. 125,000.

Dinesh Prajapati was fourth overall and third among pros with the total score of 4-under 206. He carded 3-under 69 in the final round and received Rs .100,000. Tanka Bahadur Karki (71) and former Nepal No 1 pro Bhuvan Nagarkoti (69) shared the fourth place among pros with total score of 3-under 207 and they earned Rs. 77,000 each.

Another former top pro Rabi Khadka (70) finished sixth among pros at 1-under 209 and he reeived Rs. 64,000, while Sukra Bahadur Rai, who played in the leaders’ group with Niraj and Rahul, faltered to 4-over 74 to drop down to eighth overall with total score of even-par 210. He earned Rs. 57,000.

Suman Pariyar (69) finished eighth among pros at 212, while Sanjay Lama (68) climbed to ninth at 213 and Sunil KC (74) was 10th at 218. Suman, Sanjay and Sunil received Rs. 51,000, Rs. 46,000 and Rs. 42,000 respectively. Other pros in top 18 received their share of cash prizes. Pro Jayram Shrestha received Rs. 5,000 for Hole-in-One feat on Hole No 14 on the second day of the tournament.

Padam Hang Limbu finished runner-up in amateur section with total score of 211 after he carded 3-under 69 in the final round, while Sundar Rai (68) was third at 213. A total of 52 golfers, including 30 pros and 22 amateurs, took part in the 54-hole tournament organised by PGA Nepal under the sponsorship of Surya Nepal Pvt. Ltd. The championship will end on Saturday with a Pro-Am event.