Thapa and Nepal No 1 Shrestha played one-over 68 on the first day of the 54-hole tournament. Pro Deepak Thapa Magar and amateur Bishnu Sharma shared the fourth position at two-over 69.
Altogether 56 golfers, 31 professionals and 25 amateurs, are taking part in the tournament, the fifth under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2012-13 and sponsored by Nepal Professional Golfers Association (NPGA) President Rabindra Man Shrestha.[break]
Khadka carded one-over 34 on the front nine and shot three-under 31 on the back nine. On front nine, he suffered bogeys on the seventh and eighth holes against a lone birdie on the fourth hole. Taking a turn, Khadka hit birdies on the 10th, 14th and 18th holes and an eagle on the 13th hole. He faced bogeys on the 16th and 17th holes.
Ram Thapa took the turn at three-over 36 but bounced back on the back nine with two-under 32, while Shrestha played even-par 33 on the front nine and shot one-over 35 on the back nine.
Amateur Sharma was the best player on the front nine where he carded one-under 32 but he faltered to three-over 37 on the back nine. Veteran Deepak Thapa Magar played one-over on either halves.
Four players Yelamber Singh Adhikari, Prasanna Upreti, Umesh Nagarkoti and defending champion Ramesh Nagarkoti are tied on sixth position at three-over 70. Sunil Mizar is 10th at 71.
In Amateur section, Tanka Bahadur Karki and No 1 Bikash Bogati shared the second position. They played five-over 72 to remain three strokes behind Sharma. Dinesh Prajapati is fourth at 75.
Out of the total cash purse of Rs 300,000, the top three pros will receive Rs 55,000, Rs 38,000 and Rs 28,000 respectively. Cut will be applied after the second round with top 20 and ties surviving for the final round.
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