Amateur Tashi Tsering carded seven-over 65 on the first day of the Surya Nepal Central Open at the par-72 Gokarna Golf Club in Kathmandu on Monday.

Tsering is one shot ahead of another amateur golfer Sadbhav Acharya, who carded six-under 66 in the season-opening tournament of the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2023-24.

Pro Niraj Tamang is third overall and first among pros after he played three-under 69. Jayram Shrestha is fourth at two-under 70, while Toran Bikram Shahi is fifth at one-under 71.

Dinesh Prajapati and Pradip Kumar Lama are tied for sixth at even-par 72, while four pros, Pashupati Sharma, Bhuvan Nagarkoti, Bal Bhadra Rai and Kumar Kami, share the eighth place with the score of one-over 73.

Leader Tsering carded seven-under 29 on the front nine and played even-par 36 on the back nine. He carded a birdie on the second and sank an eagle on the third hole. He then carded four straight birdies on the sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth holes. After taking the turn, Tsering carded three birdies on the 13th, 15th and 17th holes but he faced three bogeys on the 12th, 17th and 18th holes.

Young amateur Acharya carded three-under 33 on both halves. He dropped a shot on the second hole before carding four birdies on the third, fourth, sixth and ninth holes. On the back nine, Acharya carded four more birdies on the 11th, 12th, 14th and 17th holes and faced a bogey on the 16th hole.

Pro Tamang carded one-under 71 on the front nine and carded two-under 34 on the back nine. He carded birdies on the first and third holes before facing a bogey on the eighth hole. After taking the turn, Tamang sank an eagle on the 12th and carded birdies on the 10th and 14th holes. But he was undone by bogeys on the 11th and 16th holes.

Shrestha carded four-under 32 on the front nine with the help of birdies on the fifth, seventh, eighth and ninth holes. He faltered to two-over 38 on the back nine after he faced a double bogey on the 17th hole.

Another pro, Shahi carded birdies on the first and third holes and took the turn at two-under 34. He played one-over 37 after he dropped shots on the 11th and 17th holes against a birdie on the 12th hole.

A total of 38 players are taking part in the event which carries a cash purse of Rs840,000. After 36 holes, top 21 pros and all five amateurs will make the cut for the final two rounds. Top three pros will receive Rs145,000, Rs94,000 and Rs70,000, respectively.