The race for the coveted title of ‘number one golfer’ of the season heats up as the Surya Nepal Premier Golf Championship kicked off at Gokarna Golf Club on Tuesday. This prestigious tournament marks the culmination of the 2023/24 Surya Nepal Golf Tour season.
The winner will not only claim bragging rights but also walk away with the biggest prize money of the season – a whopping Rs 2 lakh 75 thousand. A total of 37 professional and 11 amateur golfers from Kathmandu, Dharan, and Pokhara are vying for glory in this 72-hole competition.
Dinesh Prajapati currently leads the pack after day 1, carding a flawless score of 7-under 65. He sits one stroke ahead of Toran Bikram Shahi and amateur Suman Pariyar, who are tied for second with a score of 6-under 66.
Defending Champion Subas Tamang, Prof. Bhuwan Nagarkoti, and amateur Sadbhav Acharya are currently in joint fourth place with scores of 4-under 68. Notably, Prof. Nagarkoti, the current leader in terms of total prize money earned this season (Rs 5 lakh 66 thousand 875), needs a win to retain his number one ranking.
The competition will see a cut applied after the first 36 holes, with only the top 21 golfers advancing to play the final 36 holes. The runner-up will receive Rs 1 lakh 75 thousand, followed by Rs 1 lakh 22 thousand for the third-place finisher, Rs 1 lakh 2 thousand for fourth, and Rs 88 thousand for fifth.
While the monetary rewards are enticing, the real battle lies between seasoned professionals like Bhuwan Nagarkoti and Niraj Tamang (currently in second place with Rs 4 lakh 48 thousand in earnings), rising stars like Dinesh Prajapati (Rs 4 lakh 15 thousand 667), and former champion Subas Tamang.
Adding another layer of intrigue is the presence of amateur golfers like Sadhhav Acharya, who has impressed throughout the season, making him a contender to watch.
Unfortunately, fans will miss out on the talents of Shukra Bahadur Tamang due to injury.
NPGA President Rabindraman Shrestha expressed his confidence that this high-stakes tournament will be a fitting culmination to the season. He also commended Surya Nepal Pvt Ltd for their continued support in promoting the development of Nepali golf, and hinted at an even more exciting season to come.
An exciting Pro Am event featuring 25 professional and over 100 amateur golfers is scheduled for Saturday, adding another layer of entertainment to the Surya Nepal Premier Golf Championship.
