Bhuwan Nagarkoti climbed on top of the leaderboard for the first time to go into the final round of the Surya Nepal Challenge with a one-stroke lead at the par-68 Royal Nepal Golf Club on Thursday.

Nagarkoti played a brilliant round of six-under 62 in the third and penultimate round for a total of 11-under 193 to wrap up the day one-stroke ahead of joint overnight leader Bhuwan Kumar Rokka.

Rokka carded two-under 66 for a 204-hole total of 10-under 194. Sanjay Lama, the other pro who started the day as joint leader, carded even-par 68 for a total of eight-under 196 and dropped to third position. Dinesh Prajapati and Veteran pro Deepak Magar are tied at seven-under 197. Prajapati played a round of four-under 64 and Magar carded one-under 67.

Subash Tamang scored three-under 65 for a total score of six-under 198 to remain atop in the amateur section. Niraj Tamang played a round of two-under 66 for a total of five-under 199. Jayaram Shrestha is at three-under 201 after a round of two-under 66. Dhana Bahadur Thapa played even-par for a total score of one-under 203.

Rajendra Thapa Magar, Rame Magar and Surya Prasad Sharma are at even-par 204 after 54 holes. The opening day leader Rabi Khadka shot six-over 74 for a total of one-over 205.

Leader Nagarkoti, who played a bogey free round, scored a lone birdie on the third hole for a one-under 33 on the front nine. After taking the turn, he birdied on the 10th, 15th and 17th holes and sank eagle on the 13th for five-under 29.

Rokka opened with a bogey on the par-five first hole before a double-bogey on the par-three third and saved a shot each on the fourth and the fifth holes for one-over 35 on the front nine. After taking the turn, he made birdies on the 13th, 14th and 18th holes for three-under 31.

Lama carded birdies on the first, fourth and eighth holes against bogeys on the third and the sixth holes for one-under 33 on the front nine. He played one-over 35 on the back nine with a lone birdie on the 10th hole against bogeys on the 13th and 15th holes.

Altogether 60 golfers — 38 pros and 22 amateurs — are taking part in the four-day event organised by Nepal Professional Golf Association under the sponsorship of Surya Nepal Pvt Ltd. Among them 22 pros and six amateurs made the cut for the last two rounds in the sixth event under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2021-22.