Jayaram Shrestha took first round lead in the Surya Nepal Premier Golf Championship — the ninth and final event of the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2018-19 on Monday at the Gokarna Golf Club.

Shrestha carded four-under 68 to take one-stroke lead over amateur Subash Tamang who shot three-under 69. Surya Prasad Sharma, Krishna Man Rajbahak and Chuda Bahadur Bhandari scored two-under 70 each. Rame Magar, Bikash Adhikari and amateur Tanka Bahadur Karki were tied third at one-under 71.

Dipendra Rayamajhi, Sachin Bhattarai turned in a card of even-par 72 along with amateurs Tashi Tshiring and Binod Tamang. Bhu Bahadur Gurung, Sanjok Moktan, Dhana Thapa, Bal Bhadra Rai, Deepak Acharya and Deepak Magar carded one-over 73 on the day.

Jayaram began the day with pars on the first two holes and sank an eagle on the third. He dropped a shot on the fourth hole and made birdies on fifth, seventh and ninth holes for four-under 32. On the back nine, he made bogey on the 16th hole and sank a birdie on the 18th for even-par 36.

Subash had a bogey free opening day scoring two-under 34 on the front nine with birdies on third and seventh holes. On the back nine, he made a sole birdie on the 12th hole for a one-under 35. Rajbahak  scored two-under 34 on the front nine with birdies on the sixth and eighth holes. On the back nine, he made par on all holes for even-par 36.

Sharma scored two-over 38 on the front nine after birdies on the opening hole, then suffered a double-bogey on the second and another on the ninth hole. On the back nine, he made birdies on 13th, 15th , 16th and 17th holes for four-under 32. Bhandari scored even-par 36 on the front nine with birdie on seventh against bogey on the first hole. On the back nine, he made birdies on 12th and 17th holes for two-under 34.

Magar scored two-over 38 on the first half with bogeys on fourth and eighth holes. On the back nine, he made birdies on 12th, 14th and 17th holes for three-under 33. Adhikari made birdies on second, third, fifth but dropped shots on seventh and eighth holes for one-under 35. On the back nine, he scored even-par 36 after making bogey on 14th against birdie on 15th hole.

Amateur Karki scored even-par 36 on the front nine with birdie on the third hole against bogey on the fifth. On the back nine, he made a sole birdie on 15th hole for one-under 35. A total of 40 professional golfers and 20 amateurs are taking part in the tournament.

The event carries a highest cash purse of the season — Rs 1.26 million. Winner of the event will bag Rs 230,000, the runner-up will earn Rs 140,000 and the third-place winner will get Rs 95,000. Others in the 24 places will also earn prize money