Former top pro Rabi Khadka returned to top of the leaderboard after the third round of Surya Nepal Challenge, the sixth event under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2022-23, at par-68 Royal Nepal Golf Club on Thursday.

Khadka carded one-under 67 for the 54-hole total of three-under 201. He is two strokes ahead of defending champion Bhuvan Nagarkoti, who carded one-under 67 for one-under 203.

Bhuwan Kumar Rokka is in the third position at even-par 204 after he played two-over 70.

National team golfer Sadbhav Acharya is placed fourth overall and is first in the amateur section. Acharya played two-over 70 for the total score of one-over 205 and is two strokes ahead of Nepal number one amateur, Subash Tamang.

Pro Dinesh Prajapati is placed fifth at two-over 206 after playing three-over 71, while Tamang is one stroke behind in sixth position with three-over 207. Tamang faltered to four-over 72 in the third round.

Deepak Magar and overnight leader Dhana Thapa share the seventh place at six-over 210. Veteran Magar shot seven-over 75, while Thapa hit nine-over 77. Jayram Shrestha, Sanjay Lama, Shivaram Poudel and amateur Yubraj Bhujel are tied on eight-over 212 in the ninth position.

Khadka, who was the leader in the first round and had slipped to the second spot on the second day, played an even-par 34 on the front nine before carding one-under 33 on the back nine. Khadka carded birdies on the first and fourth holes before dropping shots on the eighth and ninth holes. But he carded birdies on the 10th, 13th and 17th holes and faced a double bogey on the 12th hole.

Nagarkoti played an even-par 34 on the front nine and carded one-under 33 on the back nine. He carded birdies on the fourth and eighth holes but dropped shots on the seventh and ninth holes. After taking turns, he faced bogeys on the 11th and 17th holes against birdies on the 10th, 12th and 14th holes.

Rokka carded an even-par 34 on the front nine and played two-over 36 on the back nine. He carded a birdie on the first and dropped a shot on the ninth. After taking the turn, he carded birdies on the 12th and 16th holes but dropped shots on the 10th and 15th holes and suffered a double bogey on the 18th hole.

Amateur Acharya carded even-par 34 on the front nine and played two-over 36 on the back nine. He started the front nine with a birdie and dropped a shot on the ninth. After taking the turn, he faced bogeys on the 11th and 18th holes and suffered a triple bogey on the 15th hole against an eagle on the 13th and birdie on the 17th hole.

The sixth event under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2022-23, organised by Professional Golfers Association Nepal under the sponsorship of Surya Nepal Pvt Ltd, carries a cash purse of Rs545,000. Along with the trophy, the winner will receive Rs100,000. The runner-up and the third-place finisher will get Rs65,000 and Rs46,000, respectively. Other pros in top 21 will also get their share of cash prizes.