Rabi Khadka finally ended the trophy drought as he won the Surya Nepal Challenge, the fifth event under Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2023-24, at the par-68 Royal Nepal Golf Club on Thursday.

Former Nepal number one pro Khadka carded 4-under 64 in the final round for a 72-hole total of 8-under 264. He defeated defending champion amateur golfer Sadbhav Acharya by seven strokes.

It was his 12th career title and first since he won the Surya Nepal NPGA Match Play in 2017.

Champion Khadka received the winner’s trophy and a cash prize of Rs100,000.

Acharya, who had three-stroke advantage over Khadka going into the final round, ended up as amateur section winner after he faltered to 6-over 74 in the final round for 1-under 271 total. Nepal number one amateur Acharya—who had become the youngest winner at the Surya Nepal Golf Tour when he clinched the Surya Nepal Challenge last year—finished second overall. He beat Tashi Tsering by eight strokes in the amateur section, while Rahul BK finished third at 280 after he carded 1-under 67.

Three golfers Dinesh Prajapati, Deepak Magar and Dhana Bahadur Thapa were third overall and they shared second position among pros at 1-over 273. Prajapati carded 4-under 64, Magar played 1-over 69 and Thapa played 3-over 71 in the final round. They won cash prizes of Rs51,667 each.

Rame Magar came fifth at 4-over 276 after he carded an even-par 68. He walked away with Rs36,000.

Four pros, Bhuvan Nagarkoti, Sanjay Lama, Bhuwan Kumar Rokka and Jayram Shrestha shared the sixth position at 5-over 277. They got Rs27,875 each. Ramesh Adhikari (74) was 10th at 12-over 284 and bagged Rs21,000.

Khadka carded 2-under 32 on both halves. He took a one-stroke lead after Acharya played 2-over 36 on the front nine. Khadka opened up a six-shot advantage with an eagle on the 10th hole after Acharya suffered a triple bogey on the par-5 hole. Khadka made a flying start with two birdies on the first and second holes and added two more on the fourth and eighth holes. He faced bogeys on the third and seventh holes before taking the turn.

On the back nine, Khadka dropped a shot on the 17th hole against an eagle on the 10th hole and a birdie on the final hole. Acharya also began the day with a birdie but he faced a double bogey on the third and dropped a shot on the eighth hole. On the back nine, Acharya faced a triple bogey on the 10th hole, a double bogey on the 12th hole and a bogey on the 15th hole. He carded birdies on the 13th and 14th holes.

Prajapati carded 2-under 32 on both halves. He carded five birdies on the first, fourth, eighth, 10th and 15th holes and faced a lone bogey on the seventh hole. Veteran pro Magar faced four bogeys on the fifth, ninth, 15th and 17th holes against three birdies on the first, seventh and 13th holes. Thapa suffered two double bogeys on the 10th and 18th holes and faced bogeys on the third, eighth and ninth holes. He carded four birdies on the first, 11th, 13th and 15th holes.

A total of 42 golfers—31 pros and 11 amateurs—took part in the tournament which carried a cash purse of Rs572,250.