Overnight joint leader Rai submitted a card of even-par 70 for a total of one-under 209 to stay one-stroke ahead of Royal Nepal Golf Club (RNGC) pro Rabi Khadka. Khadka also played even-par 70 to remain in the second position with the score of even-par 210.[break]
Sanjay Lama shot three-under 67 and produced the best card of the day on Thursday to climb to the third position with the score of two-over 212. Another local player and overnight joint leader Mani Rai faltered to six-over 76 to slip down to the fourth position with the score of five-over 215. Dhana Thapa played two-over 72 to stay fifth with the score of six-over 216.
Leader Rai played one-under 34 on the front nine and added one-over 36 on his way to even-par 70 on the third day. He carded birdies on the second and sixth holes against a bogey on the fourth and 12th holes.
"I´m happy to maintain the lead. I was good with driver shots but putting was not up to the mark," said Rai. "Friday is the final day and I´ll try to improve my game to win the title," he added.
Khadka played one-over 36 on the front nine and carded one-under 34 on the back nine. He carded a birdie on the fifth hole and shot an eagle on the sixth. He faced a double bogey on the third hole and bogeys on the second and fourth hole. On the back nine, Rabi carded birdies on the 13th and 17th holes against a bogey on the 14th hole.
Lama started the third round with a bogey but bounced back with birdies on the third, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth holes to take the turn at five-under 30. On the back nine, he suffered a triple bogey on the 11th hole and bogeys on the 10th and 17th holes. He carded a birdie on the 13th and sank an eagle on the par-4 18th hole.
According to Nepal Professional Golfers Association General Secretary Deepak Acharya, defending champion and Nepal No 1 Shiva Ram Shrestha was disqualified after he was found illegally placing the ball on rough before hitting approach shot for the seventh green on the second day of the tournament.
"It would have been better if the authorities had given the decision on Wednesday. I´m upset as they disqualified me after playing the third round," said Shrestha. On Wednesday, Ramesh Nagarkoti faced similar action for illegally moving the ball with his putter on the 11th green.
In Amateur section, Bishnu Sharma played a round of two-under 69 to go atop the leader-board with the total score of nine-over 219. Overnight leader and Nepal No 1 Bikash Bogati played forgettable round of 11-over 81 to slip down to second with the total score of 223. Dinesh Prajapati was third at 224 after the third-round score of 77.
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