Bal Bhadra wins Surya Nepal Eastern open

DHARAN-: Local pro-Bal Bhadra Rai won the Surya Nepal Eastern Open, the second event under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2019-20, at the par-70 Nirvana Country Club Health and Golf Resort in Dharan on Thursday.
Bal Bhadra carded three-under 67 for the total score of nine-under 201 and registered a four-stroke victory over Shiva Ram Shrestha. Former top pro Shiva Ram carded six-under 64 to move to second with the total score of five-under 205. Defending champion Sukra Bahadur Rai finished third after he faltered to four-over 74 for the total score of one-over 211.
With his second career title, Bal Bhadra received Rs 125,000. He had won the Surya Nepal Western Open in the 2008-09 season. Runner-up Shiva Ram bagged Rs 75,000, while Sukra earned Rs 55,000.
Dhana Bahadur Thapa (70) finished fourth at 214 and he received Rs 45,000, while Shiva Kumar Majhi (72) and Surya Prasad Sharma (68) shared the fifth position at 216. Dinesh Prajapati came seventh at 217 after he shot three-over 73 and received Rs 31,000, while Jayaram Shrestha (72) and Rabi Khadka (69) shared the eighth position at 218 and they earned Rs 28,000 each. Sanjay Lama and Deepak Magar shared the 10th position at 10-over 220 and they got Rs 24,250 each.
Bal Bhadra Rai, who was one-stroke ahead of amateur Niraj Tamang, played one-over 37 on the front nine before carding four-under 30 on the back nine. He faced a bogey on the fourth hole and saved pars on eight holes on the front nine. On the back nine, Bal Bhadra carded birdies on the 11th, 16th, 17th, and 18th holes.
Shiva Ram carded two-under 34 on the front nine to reduced the deficit to four strokes and he came to two strokes off the pace after 12 holes before Bal Bhadra pulled back. He played four-under 30 on the back nine. He carded six birdies on the sixth, seventh, 10th, 11th, 12th and 18th holes.
Sukra, who was three strokes behind leader Bal Bhadra going into the final round, had leveled the scores at six-under with a birdie on the second hole and an eagle on the third hole but he faltered thereafter. He played one-over 37 on the front nine and settled for three-over 37 on the back nine.
In the amateur section, Niraj Tamang won the trophy with the score of four-under 206 after he carded second straight one-over 71 in the final round. Local amateur Niraj was the leader in the first round after carding six-under 64. Sukra Raj Rai was the distant second at 223, while Sundar Rai came third at 225.
A total of 50 golfers, including 34 pros and 16 amateurs, took part in the 54-hole tournament organized by Nepal PGA under the sponsorship of Surya Nepal Pvt Ltd. The event carried a purse of Rs 700,000 and the top 24 pros received their share of cash prizes. Member of Parliament of House of Representatives honorable Meena Subba, Mayor of Dharam Sub- Metropolitan Tilak Rai, Marketing Manager of Surya Nepal Bal Krishna Gurung and Nepali Congress chairman of Sunsari Area number 1, Suresh Man Shrestha handed over the prizes to the winners of the tournament.
The tournament will end with the Pro-Am event on Friday total of 60 golfers —15 professionals and 45 Amateurs — are taking part in the event.