Shrestha carded four-under 68 on Thursday for a total of 10-under 278 to lift his 11th career title -- the most by a pro in the Nepali tour. Shrestha was tied at 10 titles with Deepak Acharya before the event, while Deepak Thapa Magar is third with nine titles.[break]
Lama, who was tied for the 10th spot after the third round, jumped to second with a total of two-under 286 after the final round score of five-under 67.
Overnight leader Mani Rai played a horrible round of six-over 78 to slip down to third with one-under 287, while Samundra Giri and Ramesh Nagarkoti shared the fourth position with 289. Giri, who was the leader on the first two days, scored six-over 78, while Nagarkoti carded two-under 70 in the final round.
Three pros -- Ram Krishna Shrestha (79), Ramesh Adhikari (72) and Deepak Neupane (70) -- were tied for sixth with a score of two-over 290 each. Rabi Khadka, Ram Thapa and Surya Prasad Sharma shared the ninth position with a score of 291, while Deepak Acharya finished 13th with 292.
Winner Shrestha, who trailed Rai by one stroke after the third round, took a two-stroke lead on the first hole, where he carded a birdie and Mani faltered to a double bogey, and never looked back. In all, Shrestha carded five birdies -- on the first, second, third, seventh and 12th holes -- against a lone bogey on the fourth hole.
Lama was a surprise package on the final day, hitting six birdies against a lone bogey. He carded birdies on the third, fifth, seventh, 11th, 17th and 18th holes. His only blemish came on the 13th hole where he suffered a bogey.
Overnight leader Rai started with a double bogey and had another on the 15th hole after suffering a triple bogey on the 14th hole. He also had bogeys on the second and 17th holes. He saved pars on the third, 10th and 13th holes.
"As he (Mani Rai) shot bogey on the first hole and I finished it on birdie, I sensed victory," said winner Shrestha. "I´m happy to be the most successful pro in Nepali tour," he added.
In amateur section, Tashi Tsering won the title with a total score of 10-over 298, while Bikash Bogati finished second with 299. Tsering played a round of five-over 77, while Bogati carded four-over 76 on the final day.
Out of the total cash prize of Rs 425,000 of the third event under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2011-12, winner Shrestha received Rs 90,000, while Lama earned Rs 57,000. Third-placed Mani pocketed Rs 45,000.
Dorji Sherpa, vice-president of Gokarna Forest Resort and Ghana Shyam Thapa, former president of Nepal PGA handed over the prizes to the winners.
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