Nepal No 1 pro Sukra Bahadur Rai opened Surya Nepal Central Open campaign with a one stroke lead at the par-72 Gokarna Golf Club in Kathmandu on Tuesday.

Rai carded seven-under 65 on the first day of the 72-hole tournament to finish the day ahead of home club pro Bhuvan Nagarkoti, who carded bogey-free six-under 66. Jayram Shrestha is placed third at four-under 68 and Niraj Tamang is standing fourth at one-under 71.

Sanjay Lama and Bal Bhadra Rai are jointly in fifth place at even-par 72 with amateurs Subash Tamang and Sadbhav Acharya. Amateur Norbu Sherpa was tied at ninth with pros Shivaram Poudel at one-over 73. Three pros — Ramesh Adhikari, Rame Magar and Dinesh Prajapati — share the 11th position at two-over 74 along with amateurs Nischaya Jung Rayamajhi and Yubraj Bhujel.

Leader Rai played two-under 34 on the front nine and five-under 31 on the back nine.

Nagarkoti carded six-under 30 on the front nine and even-par 36 on the back nine. Third-placed Shrestha carded two-under 34 on both halves. Tamang carded one-under 35 on the front nine and played even-par 36 on the back nine.

Amateurs Sadbhav Acharya and Subash Tamang both carded one-under 35 on the front nine and one-over 37 on the back nine.

Cut will be applied after 36 holes. Top 21 pros and ties along with six best amateurs and those who survive the pro cut will make it to the final two rounds. Altogether, 40 golfers, including 31 pros and nine amateurs are taking part in the fifth event under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2022-2023.

The event carries a total cash purse of Rs 800,000. The winner of the event will bag Rs140,000, the runner-up will earn Rs 90,000, while the third-placed pro will get a cash prize of Rs 67,000.