Bhuwan Nagarkoti emerged as the third leader in as many rounds in the Surya Nepal NPGA Tour Championship here at the Gokarn Golf Course on Wednesday.

Nagarkoti carded three-under 69 to climb on top of the leaderboard with a total score of four-under 212 at the par-72 course. Jayram Shrestha had taken the first round lead before Rabi Khadka surged to top in the second on Tuesday. Nagarkoti was two-stroke clear of second-palced Sanjay Lama, who carded three-under69 for a total of two-under 214.

Khadka dropped to tied-third with Shivaram Shrestha after his five-over 77 on Tuesday. Nepal No 1 Shivarma shot even par 72 for a total card of even-par 216. Ramesh Adhikari was at two-over 218 after carding four-over 76 and tied for fifth with Tashi Tshiring, the leading amateur who played a round of two-over 74. Jayram was languishing at seventh place with four-over 220 after carding two-over 74 on Tuesday.

Nagarkoti carded one-under 35 on the front nine to add to his two-under 34 in the back nine, which included birdies on 11th, 12th, and 16th hole against a bogey on the last hole. Lama carded even-par 36 on the first nine with birdies on fourth and ninth holes against bogeys on second and eighth holes. In his second nine, Lama sank birdies on 11th, 12th, 16th and 18th against bogeys on the 17th for a three-under 33 card.

Shivaram carded three-under 33 on the front nine but gave away a wonderful chance to gain on the leader by shooting three-over 39 on the eventfual back nine holes where he sank birdies on 11th and 12th against quadruple-bogey on par-5 15th and a bogey on the 16th. Overnight leader Khadka scored one-over 37 on the front nine with a birdie on the third and dropped shots on fourth and eighth holes. On the back nine, Khadka sank a birdie on 13th hole but had a double-bogey on 14th, bogey on 15th and another double-bogey on 17th hole for a score four-over 40.

Tanka Karki is chasing Tashi Tshiring by four strokes in the amateur category. Karki shot even-par 72 for a total of six over 222. Prithivi Malla was in a distant third among amateurs at 231.

The final event held under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2015-16 carries a total purse of Rs 540,750 with the champion assured of Rs 100,000.