Bhuwan and team win Pro-Am title

DHARAN– The team of pro Bhuwan Nagarkoti and amateurs Hemant Thapa, Lekhi Subba and SP Bhim Dahal won the title of the Surya Nepal Eastern Open Pro-Am at the par-70 Nirvana Country Club Health and Golf Resort in Dharan on Friday.
Pro Bhuwan carded five-under 65 on his way to scoring 41 points, while amateurs Hemant scored 42 points, Lekhi scored 37 and Bhim scored 36 for the total score of 156 points.
The team of pro Dhana Bahadur Thapa and amateurs Sandhya Rai, Sudar Rai and Sam Rai finished second with 143 points. Pro Dhana scored 39 points, while Sandhya and Sundar scored 35 each and Sam scored 34 points.
Likewise, pro Sukra Bahadur Rai and amateurs Sumitra Limbu, Norkin Tamang and Yogesh Rai came third with 139 points. Pro Sukra scored 38 points, while Sumitra scored 33 and Norkin and Yogesh scored 32 points each.
Sandhya Rai was the best among ladies golfers with 35 points. Hemant Thapa won the longest drive award, while Deepak Karki won the closest to the pin award.
The scores of top pro and three best amateur cards were added to decide the winning team, while second best pro card and fourth to sixth amateurs were in the runner-up team. Likewise, third best pro teamed up with amateurs placed from seventh to ninth in the second runner-up team.
A total on 67 golfers, 15 pros and 52 amateurs, took part in the event. Honourable Speaker of Provincial Assembly of Province No 1 Pradeep Kumar Bhandari, Chairman of Nirvana Country Club Shashi Ram Bhandari, Executive Director of Nirvana Country Club Kalpana Bhandari handed over the prizes to the winners.
The main event, Surya Nepal Eastern Open concluded on Thursday with local Pro Bal Bhadra Rai winning the trophy with record score of nine-under 201. Shiva Ram Shrestha finished second with the score of 205, while Sukra Bahadur Rai was third at 211. The tournament, second event under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2019-20, carried a total cash purse of Rs 700,000.