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Kathmandu Tuesday December 18, 2001 Paush 03, 2058.
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Shahi takes slender lead over
Thapamagar
Post Report
KATHMANDU, Dec 17 - Toran Shahi fired one
under par 66 to lead the table following the opening round of the fourth Carlsberg Golf
Tournament, which began at Royal Nepal Golf Club (RNGC), on Monday.
A total of 26 golfers, including 13
professionals and as many amateurs with single handicap are competing in the four-day
event - Carlsberg Nepal PGA Championship, being organised by Gorkha Brewery Ltd in
association of RNGC and Nepal Professional Golfers’ Association.
Shahi, after a rather hesitant start at the
front nine, carding 2 over 35. He completed the par four 1st hole at even par but bogeyed
the 2nd. Although he sank a birdie putt at the par five 4th hole, he failed to repeat the
same feat at the 5th and 6th, bogeying on both occasion.
However, he came back strongly at the back
nine with three birdies at 10th, 14th and 16th to hold a slender but handy one-stroke lead
over his nearest rival Deepak Thapamagar.
Thapamagar, a pro from Tribhuvan Army
Officers’ Club, had a similar start to the front nine, returning a 2 over 35
following three bogeys at 2nd, 6th and 8th with a single birdie coming at the 3rd hole.
The back nine proved productive for him as he
registered birdies at 10th, 12th and 14th but failed to ram home the advantage dropping a
stroke at 16th. That put him at even par 67 at the end of the day.
Further one-stroke adrift are Radheshyam
Thapa and Deepak Acharya who completed the opening round at 1 over 68 to finish at the
joint third place.
Thapa, like most of his fellow pros, had a
poor front nine where he dropped four strokes, including a double bogey at the 3rd hole
that saw him struggle at 3 over par 37. But four birdies at 10th, 11th, 13th and 17th with
a lone lapse at 15th means he still holds a card going into second round tomorrow at 1
over 68. Deepak Acharya played even par 33 with a birdie and a bogey at the front nine.
But bogeys at 15th and 16th with a lone birdie at 13th saw him tie with Thapa at the third
position.
Among amateurs, CB Bhandari looked as much
enterprising as professionals as he carded 1 over 68, a six-stroke cushion over the second
placed players Yelambar Adhikari and Deep Basnet, who finished at 7 over 74.
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