Dhruba Thapa took the first day honour to stay atop the leaderboard of the Lions Centennial Open Golf Tournament at the Royal Nepal Golf Club on Friday.

Thapa and Pissanu Charnfun both scored 36 points but the former stayed ahead on countback. Playing with 18 handicap, Thapa scored 16 points on front nine and 20 on the back nine. Playing with eight handicap, Charnfun scored 19 on front nine and 17 on back nine. Damodar Khadka stay third with 35 points in the two-day amateur tournament.

Pratima Sherpa leads the women’s category with 41 points. Playing with five handicap, Sherpa scored 22 on front nine and 19 on back nine. Pawitra Yakthumba was second with 32 points and Sandhya Rai third with 27 points.

In all, 43 players completed their rounds on Friday with 60 others to open the rounds on Saturday. The tournament is divided into six categories: Men, Women, Gross, Senior, Super Senior and Lions. 

The winners in men and women sections will receive air tickets to Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok from Nepal Airlines Corporation, while other winners and runners-up will get trophies and gift hampers. Putting competition will be held on Saturday for the members of the Lions Clubs and their families.