Defending champion Subash Tamang moved on top of the leaderboard after the second round of the Surya Nepal Western Open at the par-69 Himalayan Golf Course on Thursday.

Amateur Tamang, the twin gold medalist of the 13th South Asian Games in 2019, carded four-under 65 for the 36-hole total of one-under 137 to take open one stroke lead on top. He had played three-over 72 in the first round on Wednesday.

Overnight leader Bhuvan Nagarkoti, who had opened the campaign with two-under 67 on Wednesday, played a card of two-over 71 and dropped to second position at even-par 138.

Rame Magar and Sanjay Lama are in a joint third position at one-over 139. Magar played one-under 68 and Lama shot even-par 69 and slipped one position down. Nepal No. 1 pro Sukra Bahadur Rai and Dal Bahadur Lama are tied on the fifth place at four-over 142. Rai carded an even-par 69 and Lama played two-over 71.

Jayaram Shrestha climbed to the seventh position at 143 after he carded one-under 68 in the second round. Sadbhav Acharya was standing eighth overall and second among the amateurs with a 36-hole total score of seven-over 145. Sadbhav played five-over 74 in the second round.

Bhuwan Kumar Rokka (70) and Dhana Bahadur Thapa (74) shared the ninth place at eight-over 146 along with amateur Prajwal Gurung (76). Deepak Acharya moved up to the 12th position at nine-over 147 after a card of one-over 70 in the second round.

Leader Tamang carded one-under 33 on the front nine with the help of a birdie on the eighth hole. He shot three-under 32 on the back nine that included birdies on the 10th, 13th, 15th and 18th holes against a bogey on the 11th hole.

Second-placed Nagarkoti played two-over 36 on the front nine and even-par 35 after taking the turn. He dropped a shot each on the third and fifth holes. Nagarkoti faced a bogey on the 10th and carded a birdie on the 14th hole to finish the back nine at an even-par 35.

Altogether 28 golfers including 21 pros and seven amateurs made the cut, applied at 16-over 154. They will be eligible to compete in the third and final round of the tournament. Surya Prasad Sharma, Dinesh Prajapati, Rabi Khadka, Shivaram Poudel, Niraj Tamang, Bhu Bahadur Gurung, Tanka Bahadur Karki, Krishna Man Rajbahak, Kamal Tamang, Pradip Kumar Lama, Sabin Sapkota and Bal Bhadra Rai were the other pros who survived the cut. Likewise, amateur golfers Mahendra Phagami, Ajit BK, Suresh Tamang and Yubraj Bhujel also made the cut for the final round.

A total of 45 golfers — 31 pros and 14 amateurs — are taking part in the fourth event under Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2022-2023.