Kathmandu, June 6 — Sadbhav Acharya won the title of the 11th Nepal Amateur Open Golf Championship at the par-72 Gokarna Golf Club on Thursday.
Acharya carded a 2-under 70 in the third and final round to post a record 54-hole total of 20-under 196. He recorded a 10-stroke victory over fellow national team member Rahul Biswakarma, who won the silver medal on count back after he was tied on 10-under 206 with India’s Sumit Kotwal. Biswakarma carded a 4-under 68 in the third round, while Kotwal played an even-par 72.
Acharya and Biswakarma of Nepal ‘A’ also won the team event gold medal with a stunning 24-under 264. Bhutan’s Nim Dorji Tamang and Dechen Lhendup finished second on countback after being tied on even-par 288 with Bangladesh’s Shofiqul Islam and Md Shahab Uddin. Nepal ‘B’, comprising Tashi Tsering and Wangchen Dhondup, finished fourth.
India’s Ananthi Vivek won the women’s section gold medal with a total score of even-par 216. She played 3-over 75 in the final round. Vivek, who won bronze in the previous edition, registered a 19-stroke victory over fellow Indian golfer Dia Cris Kumar.
Kumar won silver for the second straight edition after she played 8-over 80 for a total score of 19-over 235. Nepal’s Tara Karki bagged bronze with a total score of 254 after she played 91 in the final round.
India’s Vivaan Ubhayakar won the gold medal in the U-16 category with a total score of 1-under 215. He beat fellow Indian golfer Prince Bainsla by six strokes. Nepal’s Reuben Thapa won the bronze medal with a total score of 13-over 229. He beat India’s Advay Bagla on the count back after carding 4-over 76 in the third round.
A total of 57 players from five countries-Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Bhutan-took part in the tournament organised by the Nepal Golf Association (NGA). Member Secretary of the National Sports Council Tanka Lal Ghising, NGA President Tashi Ghale and vice-president Phursang Lama, among others, handed over prizes to the winners.
