Amateur golfer Sadbhav Acharya opened a two-stroke lead heading into the final round of Surya Nepal Premier Golf Championship at the par-72 Gokarna Golf Club on Thursday.

The 17-year-old Acharya carded a second straight seven-under 65 on the third day to post the 54-hole total of 16-under 200. He is two-stroke ahead of his closest competitor and overnight joint leader Subash Tamang who played a card of five-under 67 for 14-under 202.

Pro Niraj Tamang carded two-under 70 to remain in third place at eight-under 208, while defending champion Sukra Bahadur Rai was one stroke behind him after he carded one-under 71.

Dinesh Prajapati and Bhuvan Nagarkoti are tied in fifth position at five-under 211. Prajapati scored four-under 68 while money-leader Nagarkoti played one-under 71. Jayram Shrestha (72) is seventh at 213, while Purna Prasad Sharma and Shivaram Poudel share the eighth position at four-under 214. Sharma carded six-under 66 and Poudel played one-over 73. Toran Bikram Shahi played three-over 75 and he is in 10th position with the total score of one-under 215.

Leader Acharya played two-under 34 and five-under 31 on each halves. He carded birdies on the first, third, fifth and ninth holes and faced bogeys on the second and sixth holes on the front nine. At the back nine he birdied on the 11th, 12th, 14th, 15th and 16th holes. in a bogey-free back nine.

Tamang, who shared the lead with Acharya after the second round on Wednesday, carded four-under 32 on the front nine and one-under 35 on the back nine. Tamang carded birdies on the first, third, fourth, seventh and ninth holes and dropped a shot on the sixth hole at the front fine. After taking the turn, he faced bogeys on the 10th and 14th holes against birdies on the 12th, 16th and 18th holes.

Pro Niraj Tamang played five-under 31 on the front nine but ended up three-over 39 on the back nine. He started with four straight birdies and added another on the seventh hole in the bogey-free front nine. After taking the turn, he triple bogeyed on par-five 15th hole and dropped a shot each on 14th and 16th holes. He saved a shot each on the 11th and 12th holes.

A total of 50 golfers – 41 pros and nine amateurs – are taking part in the last and the eighth event of the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2022-23 season. The event carries a purse of Rs 1.52 million. Top three pros will receive Rs 270,000, Rs 170,000 and Rs 120,000 respectively. Other pros in top 21 will earn their share of cash prizes.