Dhana Bahadur Thapa clinched the Pilot Golfers NPGA Classic title for his fourth career title at the par-68 Royal Nepal Golf Club on Friday.

Thapa saved his best for the final round carding a scintillating six-under 62 to record a two-stroke win over the first two-round leader Jayaram Shrestha. Thapa finished the 54-hole tournament at five-under 207. Shrestha shot three-over 71 for a total score of three-under 209. Thapa collected Rs 85,000 and Shrestha received Rs 56,000.

Bhuwan Kumar Rokka carded two-over 70 on Friday for a total of one-under 211 to finish third. Rokka got Rs 37000. Sanjay Lama ended up in fourth with a total score of even-par 212 after shooting two-under 66 in the third and final round.

Lama received Rs 30,000. Former Nepal No 1 Deepak Acharya carded a 70 and finished tied for fifth with Rajendra Shrestha Pradhan at five-over 217. Both the pros got Rs 24,000.

Rame Magar carded five-over 73 and finished seventh with a total score of seven-over 219. Magar got Rs 21,000. Bikash Adhikari, who shot a 71 and Rabi Khadka, who carded two-under 66, were for eighth at eight-over 220 and received Rs 18,500 each. Bhuwan Nagarkoti, who carded one-under 67, and Surya Prasad Sharma finished tied for 10th at 11-over 223 and received Rs 16,000 each.

Tanka Bahadur Karki was the runaway champion in amateur category finishing at one-over 213 after carding three-over 71 on Friday. Tashi Tshiring ended up in a distant second, nine strokes adrift of Karki at 10-over 222. Tshiring shot three-over 71 on Friday.

Thapa completed a remarkable turn around to lift the championship having started the day seven strokes behind the overnight leader Shrestha. Thapa, however, closed to within a shot of Shrestha by the end of the first nine holes where he carded three-under 31 against three-over of the overnight leader. Thapa sank more birdies on 10th and 11th holes during which Shrestha dropped a shot as the eventual champion opened up two-stroke lead.

Thapa added another shot with a birdie on the 16th to have extend his lead over Shrestha to three strokes. But despite Shrestha also sinking a birdie on the 17th, Thapa completed the win by making a par in the last hole.

In all, 30 professional and eight amateur golfers took part in the three-day tournament sponsored by pilot golfers Capt Rabindra Purush Dhakal, Capt Deepak Thapaliya and Capt Vijay Pratap Singh as a tribute to Capt Badri Kumar Shrestha, the first Nepali Airline pilot who lost his life while serving the nation.

The Pro-Am tournament is scheduled for Saturday with 50 amateurs and 10 professionals in fray for the top honour.