Sanjay Lama took a three-stroke lead in the opening day of the Surya Nepal NPGA Tour Championship at the par-72 Gokarna Golf Club on Monday.

Lama played a card of six-under 66 in the first round and is three strokes ahead of Rajendra Shrestha Pradhan and Rabi Khadka—both of whom carded three-under 69 to share the joint second position.

Pokhara pro Bhu Bahadur Gurung is tied at fourth place with amateur golfers Subash Tamang and Sadbhav Acharya at two-under 70.

Toran Bikram Shahi carded one-under 71 along with three amateur golfers—Yubraj Bhujel, Tashi Tsering and Vijay Shrestha Einhaus—to share seventh position. Another amateur Suresh Tamang is tied at 11th position with pro Bhuwan Kumar Rokka at even-par 72.

Lama played bogey-free four-under 32 on the front nine and two-under 34 on the back nine. He carded birdies on the third, fourth, sixth and ninth holes. At the back nine, he carded birdies on the 10th, 11th and 16th holes against a lone bogey of the day on the 14th hole.

Shrestha Pradhan carded four-under 32 on the front nine and one-over 37 on the back nine. He carded birdies on the first, fourth, fifth and sixth holes apart from an eagle on the par-5 third hole. He dropped shots on the second and ninth holes. At the second half, he double bogeyed on the 14th hole and carded a birdie on the next hole.

Khadka carded five-under 31 on the front nine and two-over 38 on the back nine. He saved a shot each on the first five holes and played even par on the next four holes at the front nine. At the back nine, he suffered a bogey on the 13th hole and triple bogeyed on the 14th against birdies on the 10th and 15th holes.

In the amateur section, Tamang and Acharya are tied at two-under 70, while Yubraj Bhujel, Tashi Tsering and Vijay Shrestha Einhaus are one shot behind at one-under 71.

The seventh event under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2022-23 features a total of 31 pros and nine amateur golfers. Cut will be applied after 36 holes and top 21 pros and ties along with six amateur golfers will make it to the final two rounds in the event organised by PGA Nepal under the sponsorship of Surya Nepal Pvt Ltd.

The event carries a cash purse of Rs800,000. The winner will bag Rs140,000, the runner-up Rs90,000 and the third place winner will get Rs67,000. Other pros in top 21 will also have their share in cash prizes.