Pokhara, 7th February: The third event under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2016-17, Surya Nepal Western Open, will be played here at the Himalayan Golf Course from 8th February to 10th February 2017. This event is organized by Nepal Professional Golfers Association and sponsored by Surya Nepal Pvt Ltd.
The 54 holes professional event will test the skills of 28 professionals and 13 amateurs. The event will conclude with a pro-am on Saturday 11th February in which most Pokhreli amateurs await to team up with country’s professional golfers for much needed exposure.
All the professional and top amateur golfers of the country have already arrived in Pokhara and got acclimatized to the playing conditions of the most adventurous Himalayan Golf Course.
The course set in the backdrops of majestic Mt. Machhapuchre and rested in the ravine alongside Bijayapur River is certainly going to test the skills of all the top notch golfers. The prize purse for the event has been raised this year to 600,000 and winner will receive a cheque of Rs.110,000, Runner up 70,000, second runner up 45000. Others in the top 21 will also receive their share of cash prizes.
Defending champion, Dhana Thapa, Nepal number 1 Shiva Ram Shrestha, Bhuwan Nagarkoti, Sanjay Lama, and Rabi Khadka are main contenders of the event. Three professionals, who earned tour card through the Surya Nepal Golf Tour Qualifying School last month, Bhuwan Kumar Rokka, Dinesh Nagarkoti and Dal Lama shall also debut in this tournament. In the Amateur section, Bhuwan Gurung, Kamal Tamang and Ajit BK are strong contenders eying for the trophy.
Himalayan Golf course has been tweaked to its best standard and awaiting to punish the best players of the game in Nepal. The course playing par 70, 16 holes, playing the first and second holes twice will make the competition very challenging. The course is also rated as one of the most adventurous Golf course in the world by Golf Digest.