Pilot Golfers NPGA Classic Pro-Am

Thapa claims Pilot Golfers NPGA Classic crown

Dhana Bahadur Thapa (left) receiving the trophy after winning the Pilot Golfers NPGA Classic at the Royal Nepal Golf Club in Kathmandu on Friday, March 22, 2019. 

Dhana Bahadur Thapa won the Pilot Golfers NPGA Classic for his fourth career title here at the Royal Nepal Golf Club today.

Thapa carded six-under 62 for the total score of five-under 207 to beat overnight leader Jayaram Shrestha by two strokes. Shrestha played a round of three-over 71 in the final round. Thapa earned Rs 85,000, while Shrestha, who led for the first two rounds played at the Gokarna Golf Club, received Rs 56,000.

Thapa was seven strokes behind going into the final round but he carded three-under 31 to narrow the gap after overnight leader Shrestha faltered to three-over 37 on the front nine. Thapa then carded two straight birdies on the 10th and 11th to open up one stroke lead. Shrestha faced a bogey on the 12th and Thapa carded another birdie on the 16th to take three-shot lead. Shrestha carded a birdie on the 17th to reduce the deficit but it was too late for him to stage a comeback.

Bhuwan Kumar Rokka finished third at one-under 211 after he played a round of two-over 70. He earned Rs 37,000. Sanjay Lama carded two-under 66 in the final round to finish fourth at even-par 212 and he earned Rs 30,000. Deepak Acharya shared the fifth spot with Rajendra Shrestha Pradhan and they got Rs 24,000 each. Acharya played two-over 70, while Pradhan shot a 72.

Rame Magar was seventh at seven-over 219, while Bikash Adhikari and Rabi Khadka shared the eighth position at 220. Bhuwan Nagarkoti and Surya Prasad Sharma were tied for 10th with the score of 11-over 223.

Tanka Bahadur Karki won the amateur section title despite playing three-over 71 for the total score of one-over 213. Tashi Tshiring came second at 10-over 222.

In all, 30 pros and eight amateur golfers took part in the seventh event under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2018-19. The tournament was sponsored by Pilot Golfers Capt Rabindra Purush Dhakal, Capt Deepak Thapaliya and Capt Vijay Pratap Singh, in memory of Capt Badri K Shrestha. Sabita Shrestha, daughter of Capt Shrestha, also joined the sponsors’ team for the betterment of the tournament. Gandaki Noodles, BB Airways, Air Arabia, and Himalayan Bank are the co-sponsors of the event.

The 54-hole event was played at two different courses. Gokarna hosted the first two days, while the final round was played at the Royal Nepal Golf Club. The event carried a cash purse of Rs 450,000. The tournament will conclude with the Pro-Am event .

Professional golfer Jayaram Shrestha and amateurs Rishab Acharya, Lt Col Jhalendra Bhattarai and Hari Thapa won the title of the Pilot Golfers NPGA Classic Pro-Am here at the Royal Nepal Golf Club.

Pro Shrestha scored 39 points, while Acharya earned 46, Bhattarai had 44 and Thapa got 42 points for the total score of 171 points. The team of pro Surya Prasad Sharma (37) and amateurs Balram Chaulagai (41), Ashish Sherchan (39), and Subodh Thapa (38) finished second with 155 points.

Likewise, pro Dhana Thapa and amateurs Tahir Shah, Ang Norbu Sherpa and Maj Gen MB Karki accumulated 144 points to finish third. All four golfers in the team earned 36 points each. Mithun Rai won the closest-to-the-pin award and Shrihar SJB Rana bagged the longest drive trophy.

A total of 71 players, including 14 pros, participated in the event organised in memory of Capt Badri Krishna Shrestha. The best scoring pro was teamed up with top three amateurs to decide the winning team, while fourth, fifth and sixth amateurs were teamed up with second best professional golfer.

Likewise, amateurs finishing seventh, eighth and ninth were teamed up with the third best pro for the second runner-up team.

Army Club pro Dhana Bahadur Thapa  won the main event  with a two-shot victory over Jayaram Thapa. Bhuwan Kumar Rokka finished third. In all, 30 pros and eight amateur golfers took part in the seventh event under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2018-19.

The tournament was sponsored by Pilot Golfers Capt Rabindra Purush Dhakal, Capt Deepak Thapaliya and Capt Vijay Pratap Singh, along with Sabita Shrestha, daughter of late Capt Shrestha. Gandaki Noodles, BB Airways, Air Arabia, and Himalayan Bank were the co-sponsors of the tournament. The 54-hole event was played at two different courses.