DHARAN, Dec 19: Shiva Ram Shrestha and Sanjay Lama are jointly on top after the first round of the Surya Nepal Eastern Open golf tournament on Monday at the par-70 Nirvana Country Club in Dharan, Sunsari. 

Both Shrestha and Lama carded identical three-under 67 on the opening day. Dhana Bahadur Thapa stands third with even-par 70. Defending champion Bhuwan Nagarkoti and local amateur Shiva Kumar Majhi are tied on fourth positions with two-over 72. Local pro Sabin Sapkota, Rabi Khadka, and amateur Gajendra Gurung are at three-over 73. Local Dharan's pros Bal Bhadra Rai and Deo Raj Pakhrin have carded four-over 74. Bikash Adhikari, Surya Prasad Sharma and amateur Sukra Bahadur Rai are at five-over 75.

Shiva Ram carded two-under 33 on the front nine and one-under 34 on the back nine. He carded birdies on third, sixth, seventh and ninth holes while he dropped shots on the first and fifth holes before taking the turn. In the later half, he birdied on the 16th and 18th holes but dropped bogey in the 17th hole for one under 34.

Sanjay carded even-par 35 on the front nine and three-under 32 on the back nine. He sank an eagle on par-4 second hole and added a birdie on the ninth hole. He double bogeyed on par-3 fourth and bogeyed on the following hole. In the later half, he made birdies on the 12th, 14th and 15th holes for three-under 35.

Dhana carded birdies on second and sixth holes for two-under 33 on the front nine. On the back nine, he made sole birdie on the 12th hole but dropped a shot on the 10th and double-bogey on 18th for two-over 37.

The first event under Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2016/18 sees participation of 56 golfers including 31 pros and 25 amateurs. Cut will be applied after the second round with top 21 pros and six amateurs making the cut for the final two rounds. 

The tournament being organized by Nepal Professional Golfers Association under the sponsorship of Surya Nepal Pvt Ltd carries total cash prize of Rs 600,000. The top three pros will receive Rs 110,000, Rs 70,000 and Rs 50,000 respectively.

The tour will will have at least eight tournaments round the season 2016/17. 

 
• shiva ram shrestha
 
• sanjay lama
 
• surya nepal eastern open golf tournament