Tsering registered a one-stroke lead over professional golfers Deepak Neupane and Ram Thapa, who shot four-under 68 on the first day of the fourth event under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2012-13.[break]
Tsering played two-under 34 on the front nine that included birdies on the third and fourth holes, while he carded three-under 33 on the back nine. Neupane played one-under 35 on the front nine and added three-under 33 on the back nine, while Thapa played two-under 34 on either half.
Shivaram Shrestha
Defending champion and Nepal No 1 Shiva Ram Shrestha shared the fourth position with fellow Royal Nepal Golf Club pro Ramesh Adhikari with three-under 69. Shrestha played two-under 34 on the front nine and added one-under 35 on the back nine.
Rabi Khadka is sixth at two-under 70 while Ramesh Nagarkoti, Sanjay Lama, Surya Prasad Sharma and Ram Krishna Shrestha are tied for seventh at one-under 71. Veteran Deepak Thapa Magar is in the 11th position after carding even-par 72.
In the amateur section, Dinesh Prajapati, a product of Surya Nepal NGA Youth Golf Development Program, trails leader Tashi by six strokes. Bhuwan Gurung and Tashi Ghale are tied for third at two-over 74, while Dipendra Rayamajhi is fifth at 75.
Altogether, 56 players -- 29 pros and 27 amateurs -- took part in the tournament. The cut will be applied after the second round with the top 20 pros and nine amateurs qualifying for the final two rounds. The top pro golfer will receive Rs 88,000 while the runner-up pro will get Rs 55,000.
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