Surya Nepal Central Open, the season opening event of the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2023-24, is set to kick off at the Gokarna Golf Club in Kathmandu on Monday.

The event will be played over 72 holes. The cut will be applied after two rounds (36 holes). Only top 21 pros and ties make the final 36 holes along with top six amateurs and those who survive the pro-cut.

Professional golfers will test their skills for total prize money of Rs840,000.

Winner of the event will bag Rs145,000, the runner-up will earn Rs94000 and the third-place finisher will get Rs70000.

Out of 33 professionals taking part in the event, top 21 places and ties will earn prize money. Seven amateur with handicap three and below will rub shoulders with the professionals in this tournament.

Bhuwan Nagarkoti, Niraj Tamang, Dhana Thapa, Sanjay Lama, Rabi Khadka, Toran Shahi and Kumar Kami are main contenders in the event along with amateur Sadbhav Acharya.

“The Surya Nepal Golf Tour is in its 17th year and it is an excellent platform for competitive golf in Nepal both for professional and amateurs,” Rabindra Man Shrestha, president of NPGA, said. “I am excited to see some younger lot of golfers performing well in the coming season.”