Niraj Tamang recorded a one-stroke victory over Bhuvan Nagarkoti to win the title of the Surya Nepal Kathmandu Open, the seventh event under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2023-24, at the par-68 Royal Nepal Golf Club on Friday.

Tamang carded a record-equaling 8-under 60 in the final round for the total score of 8-under 264 and claimed his maiden career title along with a pay cheque of Rs120,000.

Tamang levelled the course record of 8-under with Shivaram Shrestha, who played 8-under 59 in the NPGA President’s Cup in 2015.

Tamang was seven strokes behind Nagarkoti going into the final round but played a superb round to edge the former Nepal number one pro by one shot.

Nagarkoti played even-par 68 in the final round to finish second at 7-under 265. He earned Rs 82,000.

Jayram Shrestha finished third at 1-under 271 after he carded 4-under 64. He received Rs66,000.

Toran Bikram Shahi was fourth at even-par 272 after he carded even-par 68 in the final round. He bagged a purse of Rs53,000.

Dhana Bahadur Thapa played even-par 68 to finish fifth at 2-over 274. He walked home with Rs45,000.

Subash Tamang played 1-over 59 in the final round to wrap up the tour in the sixth position at 4-over 276 in his first tournament as a professional golfer. Tamang took home Rs39,000 as his first pay cheque since turning pro in February at the Professional Golf Tour of India.

Dinesh Prajapati and Rabi Khadka shared the seventh place at 277. They got Rs33,500 each.

Rame Magar was ninth at 278. He was rewarded with Rs28,000, while Sanjay Lama and Bhuwan Kumar Rokka shared the 10th position at 279 and won Rs24,000 each.

Sadbhav Acharya won the amateur section with a total score of 13-over 285. He played 7-over 75 in the final round and recorded a 10-stroke victory over Tashi Tsering, who played 12-over 80 for 23-over 295.

National team member Rahul BK was third at 28-over 300.

Champion Tamang took the turn at 5-under 29 to cut the deficit to one stroke after Nagarkoti played 1-over 35. Tamang levelled the scores with a birdie on the 10th hole, while he was two-stroke ahead after the 14th hole.

Tamang carded 3-under 31 on the back nine, while Nagarkoti carded 1-under 33.

Tamang made a flying start in the final round with four consecutive birdies on the first, second, third and fourth holes and added another on the ninth hole. After taking the turn, Tamang carded four birdies on the 10th, 13th, 14th and 17th holes and faced a lone bogey of the day on the 16th hole.

Nagarkoti carded four birdies on the second, fourth, 11th and 18th holes, while he suffered a double bogey on the third hole and faced bogeys on the fifth and 12th holes.

Third-placed Shrestha carded 2-under 32 on both halves. He carded six birdies on the second, fourth, eighth, 13th, 14th and 17th holes and dropped shots on the ninth and 16th holes.

A total of 41 golfers—32 pros and nine amateurs—took part in the tournament which carried a cash purse of Rs703,500.