Amateur Sadbhav Acharya became the youngest winner on the Surya Nepal Golf Tour after he won the Surya Nepal Challenge at par-68 at the Royal Nepal Golf Club on Friday.

Acharya carded four-under 64 in the final round to post the winning total of three-under 269 and recorded a two-stroke victory over the defending champion Bhuvan Nagarkoti in the sixth event held under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2022-2023.

Acharya claimed his first major title at the age of 16 years and 10 months, emulating the previous record held by fellow amateur golfer Subash Tamang, who had won the Surya Nepal Challenge at the age of 16 years and 11 months. Acharya had won the first amateur section, beating Tamang in the Surya Nepal Central Open at the Gokarna Golf Club earlier this month.

Former top pro Nagarkoti carded an even-par 68 in the final round for the total score of one-under 271 and finished first among the pros, winning a cheque of Rs 100,000. Rabi Khadka slipped to third place at even-par 272 after he played three-over 71. He received Rs65,000.

Top amateur Tamang was placed fourth overall and second in the amateur section with the total score of three-over 275 after he carded an even-par 68. Dinesh Prajapati played three-over 71 to finish fifth overall and third among the pros with his score of five-over 277. He earned Rs46,000.

Bhuwan Kumar Rokka (76) and Dhana Bahadur Thapa (70) shared the fourth position among pros, with eight-over 280. They walked away with Rs36,000 each.

Deepak Magar (72) and Jayram Shrestha (70) were tied in sixth position at 10-over 282. They earned Rs 28,500 each. Sanjay Lama was placed eighth at 283 after he played three-over 71. He got Rs 24,000. Rame Magar (71) came in ninth place at 286 and Shivaram Poudel was 10th at 290.

Acharya was four strokes behind third-round leader Rabi Khadka and two shots behind Nagarkoti, heading into the final round. Acharya narrowed the gap carding two-under 32 on the front nine, while Nagarkoti overtook Khadka after he carded 32, but the overnight leader Khadka played one-over 35. Acharya carded two-under 32 on the back nine, while Nagarkoti and Khadka both carded two-over 36.

Acharya carded birdies on the second, fourth and eighth holes, while he dropped a shot on the third hole. After taking his turn, he faced a bogey on the 10th before carding birdies on the 13th, 16th and 17th holes.

Nagarkoti carded birdies on the first, third and fifth holes before dropping a shot on the ninth. He then dropped shots on the 10th, 12th, 15th and 18th holes against birdies on the 11th and 13th holes.

Khadka made a flying start with birdies on the first, second and fourth holes, but he faced a double bogey on the seventh and bogeys on the eighth and ninth holes. On the back nine, he dropped one shot each on the 12th and 15th holes and faced a double bogey on the final hole against birdies on the 10th and 16th holes.

A total of 37 golfers—30 pros and seven amateurs—took part in the tournament organised by Professional Golfers Association Nepal under the sponsorship of Surya Nepal Pvt Ltd. The tournament carried a total cash prize of Rs 545,000.