Nepal No 1 pro Sukra Bahadur Rai registered a four-stroke victory over Bhuvan Nagarkoti to defend Surya Nepal Central Open at the par-72 Gokarna Golf Club on Friday.

Rai carded two-under 70 in the final round for the 72-hole total of 23-under 265. He also equalled the course record set by India’s Shamim Khan in the 2008 Surya Nepal Masters. Rai, who clinched his career’s 11th title, had set a course record of 11-under 61 in the second round on Wednesday.

Second-placed Nagarkoti played a card of four-under 68 in the final round for the total score of 19-under 269. Winner Rai received Rs140,000 and runner up Nagarkoti walked away with Rs90,000.

Amateur golfer Sadbhav Acharya, who played seven-under 65 in the final round, finished third overall, with the score of 15-under 273 to claim the amateur trophy. He registered a one stroke victory over Nepal No 1 amateur Subash Tamang for his maiden trophy. Subash carded seven-under 65 in the final round for the total score of 14-under 274.

Niraj Tamang finished third among pros and fifth overall with the total score of two-over 290. He played two-over 74 in the last round and received Rs67,000. Jayram Shrestha played a disastrous nine-over 81 and finished fourth among the pros with a total score of five-over 293. He earned Rs55,000. Tanka Bahadur Karki (76) came fifth among pros at 294 and walked away with Rs47,000.

Rame Magar (73) came sixth at 295 and won Rs40,500, while Shivaram Poudel was placed seventh at 296 after he faltered to 81. He received Rs37,000. Sanjay Lama (82), Bal Bhadra Rai (77) and Rabi Khadka (71) finished joint eighth at 10-over 298 and earned Rs32,000 each.

Altogether 40 golfers — 31 pros and nine amateurs — competed in the fifth event under Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2022-2023 that carried a purse of Rs 800,000.