Surya Nepal Western Open, the fourth event under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour, begins at the Himalayan Golf Course in Pokhara on Wednesday.

A total of 50 golfers—35 pros and 15 amateurs—will take part in the 54-hole tournament, which was first held in 1999, Professional Golf Association Nepal General Secretary Deepak Acharya said at a press meet on Tuesday. The tournament will conclude on Saturday with a Pro-Am event.

Dinesh Prajapati, who won the second event of the season, Surya Nepal NPGA Match Play, along with former top pros Bhuvan Nagarkoti and Rabi Khadka, Jayram Shrestha, Niraj Tamang, Sanjay Lama and Dhana Bahadur Thapa are the top contenders at the event. Top amateur golfer Sadbhav Acharya, who won the title of the season-opening Surya Nepal Central Open, is also on the fray.

Defending champion and Nepal number one pro Sukra Bahadur Rai and Subash Tamang will not take part in the tournament. They are involved in Professional Golf Tour of India.

The participating golfers played a practice round at the par-70 Himalayan Golf Course, which is situated on the laps of Mount Machhapuchchhre and goes along Bijaypur River, on Tuesday.

Cut will be applied after second round. Top 21 pros and ties will make it to the final round. Amateurs making the pro cut will progress to the final round. The tournament carries a cash purse of Rs840,000. The winner will receive Rs140,000, runner-up Rs96,000 and second runner-up Rs72,000. Fourth and fifth placed pros will get Rs59,000 and Rs50,000, respectively. Other pros in top 21 will also get their share of cash prizes.