Nepal No 1 pro Sukra Bahadur Rai extended his lead by six-stroke over Bhuvan Nagarkoti after the third round of the Surya Nepal Central Open at the par-72 Gokarna Golf Club on Thursday.

Rai played a card of three-under 69 to post the 54-hole total of 21-under 195. He is six strokes ahead of Nagarkoti after the penultimate rounds. Nagarkoti played even-par 72 for the total score of 15-under 201

Amateur golfer Sadbhav Acharya carded a bogey-free eight-under 64 to remain at the third place with a total score of 11-under 205. Nepal No 1 amateur golfer Subash Tamang played six-under 66 for a total of seven-under 209

Jayram Shrestha is fifth overall at four-under 212 after he carded three-under 69 in the third round. Shivaram Poudel carded three-under 69 to move up to sixth at one-under 216. Sanjay Lama (69) and Niraj Tamang (72) share the seventh position at even-par 216.

Tanka Bahadur Karki is ninth at two-over 218 after he carded even-par 72, while Dinesh Prajapati (72) is at 10th place with the score of four-over 220.

Defending champion Rai played two-under 34 on the front nine and one-under 35 on the back half. Nagarkoti played even-par 36 on both halves. Amateur golfer Acharya carded four-under 32 on both halves. South Asian Games (SAG) twin gold medalist Tamang carded three-under 33 on the front nine and finished the back nine at three-under 33.

The tournament, fifth event under Surya Nepal Golf Tour, carries a purse of Rs800,000. The winner will get richer by Rs140,000, the runner-up will earn Rs 90,000, the third-placed pro will get Rs 67,000. Other pros in top 21 will also earn their share of cash prizes.