Shrestha, who started with three-stroke lead over Thapa, carded two-under 70 on Wednesday for a total of 12-under 204. Thapa played a round of even-par 72 for a total of seven-under 209 after the completion of third round. [break]
Shrestha played four-under 32 on the front nine and faltered to two-over 38 on the back nine. He started with a birdie on the first hole and added another two on the seventh and ninth. He sank an eagle on the third and dropped a shot on the eighth hole.
On the back nine, he hit birdies on the 12th, 13th and 17th holes against a bogey on the 16th and double bogeys on the 11th and 14th holes. Thapa played even-par 36 on either halves.
Ramesh Nagarkoti climbed up to third position at five-under 211 after the round of three-under 69. Deepak Neupane (72) shared the fourth position with amateur Tashi Tsering (74) at four-under 212. Rabi Khadka (73) is fifth at three-under 213, while Umesh Nagarkoti played a round of one-under 71 to remain sixth at 214.
Ramesh Adhikari (78) and Deepak Thapa Magar (72) as well as Toran Bikram Shahi (72) are tied for seventh at even-par 216. Sanjay Lama and Rajan Thapa shared the 10th position at 217.
In Amatur section, Bikash Bogati is 10 strokes behind leader Tsering at six-over 222. Bogati played a round of one-under 71. Ashish Pariyar (77) is third at 225.
The final round of the fourth event under the Surya Nepal Central Open will be played on Thursday. The top three pros will receive Rs 88,000, Rs 55,000 and Rs 40.700 respectively.
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