Shivaram Shrestha’s dominating display in the Surya Nepal Central Open concluded with a comprehensive title triumph as the Nepal No 1 pro golfer won the opening event under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2018-19 by 12 strokes on Thursday.

On the final and fourth round at the par-72 Gokarna Golf Club, Shrestha shot three-under 69 in the final round for a clinical display that saw him hardly showing any glimpse of relinquishing the two-stroke lead he began with on the first day. The champion posted a total score of 15-under 273 leaving Bhuwan Nagarkoti way behind for his 42nd career title. Along with the title, Shrestha pocketed a cash purse of Rs. 120,000. Bhuwan carded one-under 71 on Thursday for a total of three-under 285. He took home Rs 77,000.

Amateur Tashi Tsering won the amateur title with the score of four-over 292. Tsering, who carded four-over 76 in the final round, finished overall third in the tournament. Dhana Thapa was third among the professionals at five-over 293 returning the card of three-over 75 on Thursday. He got Rs 55,000. Wangchen Dhondup was runner-up among amateurs and fifth overall with the total score of eight-over 296 following a three-over 75 on the final day.

Ram Krishna Shrestha (74) finished fourth among professionals with the total score of 12-over 300. That fetched him a purse of Rs. 43,000. Deepak Magar was fifth at 302 after Thursday’s two-under 70 and pocketed Rs. 35,000.  Krishna Man Rajbahak, Rame Magar and Bikash Adhikari were tied sixth at 303. The trio got Rs 30,333 apiece. Rabi Khadka (304) was ninth with Shiva Kumar Majhi (305) rounding up inside the top 10.

Shrestha had a run-away victory as he was hardly given a chase throughout the tournament. On Thursday, he played a five-under 31 on the front nine with birdies on fist, third, fifth, seventh and ninth holes. On the back nine, he made bogeys on 12th and 15th holes for two-over 38.

Nagarkoti scored two-under 34 on the front nine with birdies on third, fourth and fifth holes against a bogey on the second. On the back nine, he dropped shots on 11th and 16th holes but made a birdie on the last hole for one-over 37. Amateur Tsering scored one-over 37 on the front nine after pars on each hole barring the fifth. On the back nine, he made birdies on 11th, 12th and 18th holes but made bogeys on 13th, 14th, 15th, 17th holes and double-bogey on 16th hole made him close with three-over 39.

Krishna Man Rajbahak made a hole in one on the fifth hole on the final round and got cash prize of Rs. 15,000. A total of 41 players, 30 pros and 11 amateur golfers, took part in the Rs 661,500 tournament. Vice President of Surya Nepal Pvt Ltd Dipra Lahiri, NPGA President Rabindra Man Shrestha, Vice-president of Nepal Golf Association Pavitra Kumar Karki and Nepal PGA advisor Ghana Shyam Thapa handed over the prizes to the winners.