The Royal Nepal Golf Club (RNGC) golfer Sharma shot 66, while Nepal No. 1 Shiva Ram Shrestha four shots behind in third at even-par 70.

Amateur golfers Purna Limbu and Tham Bahadur Rai carded one-over 71, while Deepak Thapa Magar and defending champion Rabi Khadka were a stroke behind in sixth at 72.

Sanjeev Nepali and Dhana Thapa were tied for eighth at three-over 73 along with amateur Sukra Bahadur Rai. Suman Rai, Rame Magar, Ramesh Adhikari, Suman Sapkota, Pradeep Lama and Umesh Nagarkoti are in a six-way tie for the 11th position with the score of four-over 74.

In all 31 pros and 24 amateurs are in fray for the 54-hole tournament, third event under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2014-15. Top three pros will earn Rs 95,000, Rs 60,000 and Rs 44,000 respectively in the Rs 5,15,000 tournament. Cut will be applied after 36 holes with top 21 pros and amateurs making it to the final round. The Pro-Am event has been scheduled for November 15.

Lama carded three-under 32 on the front nine and added two-under 65 on his way back. He carded birdies on the third, sixth and seventh holes in the front nine before making pars in the next eight holes. Lama signed off the first day on style, sinking an eagle on the 18th hole.

Sharma carded two-under 33 on the front nine which included birdies on the fourth and sixth holes, while his back nine of two-under 33 included birdies on the 13th, 14th, 17th and 18th holes against bogeys on the 15th and 16th. Top pro Shiva Ram shot one-under 34 on the front nine and one-over 36 on the back nine. The top seed sank two birdies against the same number of bogeys.

Purna Limbu lead the amateur category with the score of one-over 71. Sukra Bahadur Rai was second at three-over 73 while Shiva Raj Majhi and Arun Tamang are third at six-over 76.