Surya Nepal Western Open, the fifth event under Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2021-22, will tee off at the par-69 Himalayan Golf Course in Pokhara on Wednesday.

The 54-hole professional event will have participation of 30 pros and 15 amateur golfers, according to Deepak Acharya, the general secretary of organiser Nepal Professional Golfers Association (NPGA) at a press conference on Tuesday.

Following a three-day pro contest, the event will conclude with a pro-am event on Saturday. Pro Sukra Rai will be the notable absentee as he is currently in India to take part in Gujarat Open.

Professional golfers Bhuwan Nagarkoti, Sanjay Lama, Dhana Thapa and Rame Magar are among the main contenders of the event. Bhuwan Gurung and Dal Lama are the local pros to rub shoulders with the established guns. They are expected to face a tough challenge from amateur Subash Tamang, the twin gold medalists of the 13th South Asian Games held in December 2019.

"The event is taken with great enthusiasm by the locals of Pokhara. It gives a much needed exposure and an opportunity for local amateurs of the city to test their calibre," said NPGA President Rabindra Man Shrestha.

The event will conclude with a pro-am on Saturday 2nd April in which most Pokhreli amateurs await to team up with the country's professional golfers for a much-needed exposure.

The event carries a total cash prize of Rs775,000 with the winner walking away with a purse of Rs135,000. The runner-up will get Rs88,000 and second runner-up Rs65,000 while other pros in top 21 positions will have their share in the cash prizes.