Surya Nepal Eastern Open, Defending champion Niraj extends lead on Day-2

DHARAN : Defending champion and Nepal No 1 pro Niraj Tamang extended the lead to five strokes after second round of Surya Nepal Eastern Open, second event under Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2025-26, at par-70 Dharan Golf Club on Thursday.

Niraj carded second straight 6-under 64 for 36-hole total score of 12-under 128. He is five strokes ahead of amateur golfer Rahul Bishwakarma. Rahul, who won the season-opener Surya Nepal Central Open at Gokarna Golf Club earlier this month, carded a bogey-free 64 in the second round to move to second at 7-under 133. 

Sukra Bahadur Rai and Tanka Bahadur Karki are third at 4-under 136. Sukra carded 3-under 67 and Tanka played 1-under 69 on the second day. Dinesh Prajapati moved up to fifth at 3-under 137 after he carded 4-under 66.

Rabi Khadka, Bhuvan Nagarkoti and Bal Bhadra Rai are tied for sixth at 1-under 139. Rabi carded 1-under 69, Bhuvan played even-par 70 and Bal Bhadra shot 2-over 72. Two amateur golfers Padam Hang Limbu and Prakrit Tamang share the ninth position at 2-over 142. Padam carded 2-under 68 and Prakrit played 3-over 73. 

Leader Niraj took the turn at an impressive 6-under 30 with the help of birdies on second, third, fifth, sixth, eighth and ninth holes. He then carded a birdie on the 11th and dropped a shot on 15th hole to finish the back nine at even-par 34. 

Amateur Rahul carded birdies on fifth, sixth and ninth holes for a 3-under 33 on front nine. He fired 3-under 31 on the back nine with birdies on 10th, 12th and 18th holes. 

Former No 1 pro Sukra played 1-under 35 on front nine after he carded birdies on the second, third and seventh holes against bogeys on the fourth and fifth holes. He carded a bogey-free 2-under 32 on the back nine with birdies on the 12th and 15th holes.

Tanka carded 1-under 35 on front nine with birdies on the first and seventh holes against a bogey on the second. On the back nine, he carded three birdies on the 10th, 12th and 18th holes and faced three bogeys on the 11th, 14th and 15th holes.

Cut was applied at 11-over 151, with 18 pros and seven amateurs making it to the third and final round. Jayram Shrestha, who made a Hole-in-One on 14th hole, Suman Pariyar, Sunil KC, Sanjay Lama, Suman Rai, Bhuwan Kumar Rokka, Deepak Magar, Krishna Man Rajbahak, Suresh Tamang, Surya Prasad Sharma and Dhana Bahadur Thapa survived the cut in professional section. 

Three pros Shiva Kumar Majhi, Tham Bahadur Rai and Rajen Rai, and amateur Gajendra Limbu missed the cut on count back after being tied on 151.
In amateur section, Rahul Bishwakarma is at the top at 7-under 133 and he is nine strokes ahead of Padam and Prakrit. Four other amateur golfers, Sundar Rai, Ram Tamang, Jitendra Rai and Balram Poudel also made the cut.

A total of 52 golfers, including 30 pros and 22 amateurs, are taking part in the 54-hole tournament organised by PGA Nepal under the sponsorship of Surya Nepal Pvt. Ltd. The tournament carries a prize purse of Rs 10,50,000. 

The tournament winner will receive Rs. 170,000, while the runner-up and third-place finisher will earn Rs. 125,000 and Rs. 100,000 respectively. Other pros in top 18 will receive their share of prize money.

The championship will end on Saturday with a Pro-Am event, offering amateur golfers a unique opportunity to team up with professionals in an exciting and engaging format.