Amateur golfer Sadbhav Acharya extended the lead to four strokes after the third round of the Surya Nepal Central Open—the season-opening event under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2023-24—at the par-72 Gokarna Golf Club on Wednesday.

Acharya carded second straight four-under 68 for the 54-hole total score of 14-under 202. He is four strokes ahead of pro Dinesh Prajapati, who carded three-under 69 for the total score of 10-under 206.

Former Nepal number one pro Bhuvan Nagarkoti produced the best card of seven-under 65 to move to the third position at seven-under 209.

Sanjay Lama and Jayram Shrestha share the fourth position at two-under 214. Sanjay carded three-under 69 while Jayram played three-over 75 in the third round. Pro Dhana Bahadur Thapa (73) and amateur Tashi Tsering (74) were tied for sixth at even-par 216.

Pro Niraj Tamang, who played one-over 73, is at the eighth position with the score of two-over 218. Ravi Khadka (72) and Pradip Kumar Lama (74) share the ninth position at four-over 220.

Leader Acharya carded four-under 32 on the front nine and played even-par 36 on the back nine. He carded five birdies on the second, third, fourth, fifth and ninth holes, and faced a bogey on the eighth hole. After taking the turn, Acharya carded a birdie on the 10th and sank an eagle on the 11th hole but he faced three consecutive bogeys on the 15th, 16th and 17th holes.

Pro Prajapati carded three-under 33 on the front nine and played even-par 36 on the back nine. After facing a bogey on the first hole, Prajapati carded birdies on the fourth, sixth, seventh and eighth holes. On the back nine, Prajapati carded a birdie on the 12th hole and dropped a shot on the 15th hole.

Nagarkoti carded three-under 33 on the front nine and played two-under 32 on the latter half. He carded five birdies on the third, fourth, sixth, seventh and ninth holes and faced a bogey on the eighth hole. On the bogey-free back nine, Nagarkoti carded four birdies on the 10th, 11th, 13th and 17th holes.

Lama carded one-under 35 and added two-under 34 on the back nine. He faced bogeys on the fifth and sixth holes against birdies on the third, seventh and eighth holes. On the back nine, Lama carded birdies on the 12th, 15th and 16th holes and faced a bogey on the 14th hole.

Shrestha faltered to two-over 38 on the front nine and played one-over 37 on the back nine. He carded birdies on the third and ninth holes and faced bogeys on the first and fifth holes apart from a double bogey on the fourth hole. He faced a bogey on the 15th hole and saved pars on eight other holes.

First-round leader Tsering carded one-over 37 on either half. He dropped shots on the second and 12th holes and saved pars on 16 holes.