DHARAN, December 28: Rabi Khadka won the Surya Nepal Eastern open, the fifth event under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2013-14, at the par-70 Nirvana Country Club Health and Golf Resort in Dharan on Saturday.
The No 2 pro from RNGC Rabi carded even-par 70 for a total score of three-over 283, that gave him two-stroke win over Umesh Nagarkoti of Gokarna Golf Club. With the cheque of Rs 95,000, Rabi lifted his eighth major title. Umesh also played a round of 70 today, while Local pro Suman Rai finished third at 287 after he shot two-over 72. Umesh bagged Rs 60,000 and Suman got 44,000.
Rabi began the day with two-stroke cushion played one-over 36 that included birdies on the second and sixth holes against bogeys on the first, fifth and seventh holes. On the back nine, Rabi shot birdies on the 10th and 16th holes before facing a bogey on the 17th hole. Umesh took the turn at two-over 37 before carding two-under 33 on the back nine with the help of five birdies, three bogeys and a double bogey. Likewise, Suman shot two birdies against four bogeys.
Another local pro Mani Rai (69) and Army Club’s Dhana Thapa (68) shared the fourth position at 289 earning Rs 34,000 each, while veteran Deepak Thapa Magar (71) came sixth with the score of 291 earning Rs 29,000, one ahead of Tham Bahadur Rai (72) who pocketed Rs 25,500. Likewise, Ramesh Adhikari and Surya Prasad Sharma shared the eighth position at 293, while Ram Thapa and Sanjay Lama were tied for 10th at 15-over 295. Second-round leader Deo Raj Pakhrin of Dharan slipped to 12th position at 296 after he shot nine-over 79.
Rabindra Rai outplayed Nepal No 1 amateur Dinesh Prajapati by seven strokes on the final day to win the amateur section title. Rabindra shot three-over 73 for a total of 16-over 296, while Dinesh, the member of Surya Nepal NGA Youth Golf Development Programme, faltered to 12-over 82. Purna Limbu was third at 313.
A total of 46 players — 28 pros including six local golfers and 18 amateurs – participated in the tournament organised by Nepal PGA under the sponsorship of Surya Nepal Pvt Ltd. The cut was applied after the second round with 22 pros and six amateurs making it to the final two rounds. Out of the total cash purse of Rs 514,250, all the 22 pros received their share of cash prizes. No 1 pro Shiva Ram missed the event as he has been playing in the PGTI events in India.