Surya Prasad Sharma maintained a five-stroke lead after the second round of the Surya Nepal NPGA Tour Championship here at the par-72 Gokarna Golf Club on Tuesday.

Sharma, who fired a sizzling six-under 66 in the first round, shot one-under 71 on Tuesday for a two-day total of seven-under 137. His nearest rival and Nepal No 1 Shivaram carded back to back one-under 71 for a total of two-under 142. Sanjay Lama returned with even-par 72 on Tuesday for a total of one-under 143. Rame Thapa shot one-over 73 for a total of even-par 144 in the seventh event of the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2016-17.

Amateur Tanka Bahadur Karki turned in a card of one-under 71 for a total of three-over 147. Bhuwan Nagarkoti (75), and Rabi Khadka (73) are at four-over 148. Rajendra Thapa Magar carded three-over 75 for a total of five-over 149. Pashupati Sharma (77) is at seven-over 151.

Sharma opened the second day bogey-free front-nine score of three-under 33 that included birdies on the third, fourth and seventh hole. The leader than earned another shot at the par-3 13th on his way back only for him to suffer a double bogey on the 14th. Sharma closed out the back nine at two-over 38 after losing yet another shot at 17th.

Top ranked Shrestha shot one-under 35 on the front nine with birdies on third, fifth, and sixth against bogeys on the first and eighth holes. On the back nine, the Royal Nepal Golf Club pro sank a birdie on the 11th but dropped a shot on the very next hole for even-par 36. Lama carded birdies on third and sixth against bogey on first for one-under 35 on the front nine. 

On his way back, Lama sank birdies on the 11th and 13th but dropped shots on the 10th, 14th and 15th holes for one-over 37. 

Magar made birdies on first and seventh holes against bogey on the eighth for one-under 35 on the first half. On the second half, he made bogeys on 11th and 17th holes for two-over 38.

Amateur golfer Karki shot one-over 37 on the front nine with a birdie on the seventh against bogeys on the second and sixth holes. In his back nine, Karki had a bogey on the 10th hole but bounced back with a birdie on the 11th, eagle on the 12th and another birdie on the 13th. He closed out the day with dropping a shot on the 15th hole for a back nine score of two-under 34.

Amateurs Tenzing Tsering was a distant second at 11-over 15 after carding four-over 76 on Tuesday. Bipin Tamang (81) was at 16-over 160. Cut was applied at 16-over 160 and 21 pros and six amateurs will now compete in the next two-rounds. In all, 40 golfers—31 pros and 15 amateurs—took part in the first two rounds. 

The tournament offers Rs 600,000 in prize money with the champion assured of a cheque of Rs 110,000. The runner-up will get Rs 70,000 and third-placed golfer will receive Rs 50,000. All pros to make the cut are assured their share of cash rewards.