Rabi Khadka took a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Surya Nepal Kathmandu Open at the par-68 Royal Nepal Golf Club, on Tuesday.

Khadka carded six-under 62 in the opening round of the season opening event at the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2022-23 at his home course. Khadka is one shot ahead of Bhuwan Nagarkoti, who carded five-under 63.

The Nepal number one pro, Sukra Bahadur Rai, carded three-under 65 to remain three strokes behind the leader, while Niraj Tamang is placed fourth at two-over 66.

Ramesh Adhikari is in fifth position at one-under 67.

Dhana Bahaur Thapa and Jayaram Shrestha are joint sixth after carding even-par 68.

Three pros, Surya Prasad Sharma, Dal Bahadur Lama and Krishna Man Rajbahak are tied in the eighth position at one-over 69.

Former number one pro Khadka carded four-under 30 on the front nine and played two-under 32 on the back nine. He began the day with an eagle on the first hole and carded birdies on the fourth, fifth and eighth holes. Rabi faced a bogey on the sixth hole. After taking the turn, Rabi dropped a shot on the 15th hole against three birdies on the 10th, 12th and 13th holes.

Nagarkoti took the turn at two-under 32 and carded three-under 31 on the back nine. Bhuwan carded two consecutive birdies on the first and second holes and added another on the fourth hole before facing a bogey on the ninth hole. On the back nine, Bhuvan carded birdies on the 10th, 13th and 14th holes.

Number one pro Rai, who is also participating in the Indian Tour—carded two-under 32 on the front nine and added one-under 33 on the back nine. On the front nine, Rai carded three birdies on the first, second and fourth holes before dropping a shot in the eighth hole. After taking the turn, Rai carded a birdie on the 13th hole and succeeded in saving pars on eight others.

In the amateur section, Ajit BK carded two-over 70 to take an eight-stroke lead over Prajwal Gurung, who played 10-over 78. BK—who is tied in the 11th place with pros Rajendra Shrestha Pradhan and Pradeep Kumar Lama—played one-over 35 on both halves, while Gurung took the turn at three-over 37 and played seven-over 41 on the back nine.

A total of 31 pros and five amateurs are taking part in the first event under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2022-23 organised by the Nepal PGA under the sponsorship of Surya Nepal Private Limited.

Cut will be applied after 36 holes with top 21 pros and five amateurs making it to the final two rounds.

The event carries a cash purse of Rs670,000. Top three pros after 72 holes will earn Rs116,000, Rs74,000 and Rs63,000 respectively, while others in top 21 will earn their share of cash prizes.