Bhuwan Nagarkoti won the Surya Nepal Kathmandu Open, the first event under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2022-23, at the par-68 Royal Nepal Golf Club on Friday.

Nagarkoti carded four-under 64 to post the 72-hole total of 14-under 258 and recorded a nine-stroke victory over Dinesh Prajapati.

This is Nagarkoti’s 10th career title. He earned a cheque of Rs116,000 as the prize amount.

Prajapati produced the best card of the day with six-under 62 for the score of five-under 267 and moved up to second. He earned Rs78,000.

The Nepal number one pro, Sukra Bahadur Rai, slipped to the third position after he played an even-par 68 and received Rs63,000 for his efforts.

Leader of the first two rounds, Rabi Khadka played a round of four-over 72 and finished fourth at three-over 275. He took home Rs50,000.

Ramesh Adhikari stood fifth at five-over 277 after he played one-over 69 and received Rs43,000.

Krishna Man Rajbahak finished sixth at 278, Surya Prasad Sharma was seventh at 279, while Pradip Kumar Lama and Jayram Shrestha shared the eighth place at 280. Dhana Bahadur Thapa finished 10th at 281.

Nagarkoti, who went into the final round with a nine-shot lead, carded one-under 33 on the front nine and added three-under 31 on the back nine. He dropped a shot on the second hole and bounced back with birdies on the third and fifth holes. With no one pushing from behind, Nagarkoti carded birdies on the 11th, 13th and 14th holes to cap a bogey-free back nine.

Prajapati carded seven birdies and faced a bogey on the final round as he raced past Rai to the second spot in final standings. Prajapati carded two-under 32 on the front nine and shot four-under 30 on the back nine. He made birdies on the second, third and sixth holes, before dropping a shot on the ninth. After taking the turn, Prajapati carded four birdies on the 10th, 11th, 13th and 14th holes.

Rai, who was two strokes ahead of Prajapati going into the final round, carded one-under 33 on the front nine and played one-over 35 on the back nine. Rai carded a birdie on the eighth hole and saved pars on eight other holes before taking the turn. He then faced a double bogey on the 18th and dropped shots on the 15th and 17th holes against birdies on the 11th, 13th and 16th holes.

In the amateur section, Ajit BK won the title with a score of 17-over 289. BK played six-over 74 in the final round, but that was enough for him to register a 22-stroke victory over Suresh Tamang. Tamang played four-over 72 for the total score of 311.

A total of 36 golfers, including 31 pros and five amateurs had taken part in the event.

Marketing Manager of Surya Nepal Pvt Ltd Keshav Pradhan and the President of PGA Nepal, Rabindra Man Shrestha, handed over the prizes to the winners.