KATHMANDU, March 21: Hridesh Kumar Singh came on top of the leaders' board after the first round of play of the Nepal Amateur Open Golf Championship 2017 that kicked off on Tuesday at the par-72 Gokarna Golf Club in Kathmandu.
Hridesh carded one-under 71 for a one-stroke lead over Shiva Kumar Majhi and Tashi Dong. Tashi Tsering is fourth at one-over 73. Sukra Bahadur Rai and Wangchen Dhondup hold joint fifth position at two-over 74. Prithivi Malla is seventh at three-over 75. Tanka Bahadur Karki, Tenzing Tsering and Tsendra Dorji of Bhutan are joint eighth at four-over 76.
Two players from Bangladesh Md Shah Alam and Md Somrat Sikdar along with Sundar Rai carded five-over 77.
Hridesh sank an eagle on par-five third hole and birdie on eighth hole for front nine total of three-under 33. On the back nine, he made birdies on the 11th and 18th holes. He dropped a shot each on the 12th and 17th holes and double bogeyed on the 14th hole for a total of two-over 38.
Shiva and Tashi Dong each carded one-under 35 on the front nine and one-over 37 on the back nine.
Shiva dropped a shot on the very first hole and birdied on the third. He then bogeyed on the sixth hole but birdied on the following two holes on the front nine. After taking the turn, he saved a shot on the 10th hole but bogeyed on the 11th and 16th holes. Tashi Dong saved a shot each on the third and seventh holes against a lone bogey on the ninth hole. After taking the turn, he bogeyed on the 18th hole before saving pars on all other holes.
In team event, Nepal A consisting of Shiva Kumar Majhi (72) and Sukra Bahadur Rai (74) leads the chart with total score of 146. Nepal B comprising Tanka Bahadur Kari (76) and Tenzing Tsering (76) are second at 152. Bangladesh team of Md Shah Alam (77) and Md Shomrat Sikder (77) are third at 154.
Altogether five teams - two each from from Nepal and Bhutan and one from Bangladesh are taking part in the team event that will be played over 36 holes.
The three-day tournament to be played over 54 holes is organized by Nepal Golf Association.
Amateur Tenzing takes lead on opening day
