Dinesh Prajapati and Jayaram Shrestha finished the first round of the Surya Nepal NPGA Tour Championship in a share of lead at the par-72 Gokarna Golf Club on Monday.

Both Prajapati and Shrestha shot two-under 79 in the eighth event of the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2018-19. Rabi Khadka was one shot adrift in third at one-under 71. Shiva Kumar Majhi and Bikash Adhikari carded even-par 72 while Deepak Acharya, Bhuwan Nagarkoti, and amateur Tanka Bahadur Karki were in group of three at one-over 73.

Rame Magar, Pradeep Kumar Lama, Surya Prasad Sharma, and amateur Bipin Tamang carded two-over 74. Sanjay Lama and Deepak Magar scored three-over 75.

Prajapati carded two-under 34 on the front nine with birdies on seventh and ninth holes. On the back nine, he saved par on all the holes for even-par 36. Shrestha sank birdies on fourth and sixth holes for two-under 34 on the first half. On the back nine, he sank birdies on 13th and 14th against bogeys on the 17th and 18th for an even-par 36.

Khadka carded had one-over 37 on the front nine with a birdie on seventh against bogeys on fifth and eighth holes. On the back nine, Khadka sank birdies on 10th, 11th and 13th against a bogey on 14th hole for two-under 34. Majhi shot one-under 35 on the front and one-over 37 on the back nine. He made birdies on the seventh, eighth, 12th, 13th and 18th holes against bogeys on the sixth, 11th, 14th, 15th and 16th holes.

Adhikari carded even-par 36 on both halves. On the front nine, Adhikari sank birdies on the first, fourth and seventh holes against a bogey on eighth and a double-bogey on second. On the back nine, he dropped a shot on the 14th but made amends by sinking a birdie on the last.

The tournament offers Rs 661,500 in prize money. The eventual champion will receive Rs 120,000, runner-up get Rs 77,000 and the third-place pro will earn Rs 55,000. Others to make the cut for the final rounds are also assured of their share of cash rewards.