Defending champion Subash Tamang moved to the top of the leaderboard after the third round of the Surya Nepal Premier Golf Championship, the eighth and final event under Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2023-24, at the par-72 Gokarna Golf Club on Thursday.

Subash carded 5-under 67 for 54-hole total score of 12-under 204. He is one-stroke ahead of Dinesh Prajapati and Bhuvan Nagarkoti.

Overnight co-leaders Prajapati and Nagarkoti both carded 1-under 71 in the third round for a total score of 11-under 205.

Amateur Sadbhav Acharya and Niraj Tamang share fourth position at 9-under 207 after both golfers carded 2-under 70.

Toran Bikram Shahi carded 1-under 71 to move up to sixth at 6-under 210.

Amateur Vijay Shrestha Einhaus is seventh at 5-under 211 after he carded even-par 72. He is four-stroke behind amateur section leader Acharya going into the final round.

Jayram Shrestha carded even-par 72 and he is eighth at 212, while amateur Suman Pariyar is ninth at 1-under 215 after he played 3-over 75.

Amateur duo Rahul Bishwokarma and Tenzing Palden share the 10th position with pro Sanjay Lama at even-par 216. Rahul carded 3-under 69, Palden carded 1-under 71 and Sanjay faltered to 4-over 76 in the third round.

Five out of the six amateur golfers who made the cut are in the top 10 in the leaderboard.

Subash, who began the title defence with rounds of 68 and 69 in the first two rounds, produced the best card of the day. He carded four birdies and sank an eagle, and faced a lone bogey. Subash took the turn at 2-under 34 after dropping a shot on the fourth against birdies on the third, seventh and ninth holes. After taking the turn, he carded 3-under 33 with the help of an eagle on the 12th hole and birdie on the 13th hole.

Prajapati took the turn at 3-under 33 after he carded birdies on the first, third and seventh holes. He faltered to 2-over 38 on the back nine. Prajapati carded a birdie on the 11th hole but he faced a double bogey on the 12th and dropped a shot on the 15th hole.

Nagarkoti also took the turn at 3-under 33. He carded four birdies on the second, third, fifth and seventh holes before facing a bogey on the eighth hole. He had a forgetful par-4 14th hole where he hit two Out of Bounds (OB) on his way to facing a quadruple bogey eight. But he recovered well with birdies on the last two holes to end the back nine at 2-over 38.

Amateur section leader Acharya carded one-under 35 on both sides, on the front nine he carded birdies on the third and fourth holes before facing a bogey on the sixth hole. On the back nine, he carded a birdie on the 11th and saved pars on eight other holes.

Niraj carded birdies on the second and eighth holes to take the turn at 2-under 34. He faced a bogey on the 11th hole and carded a birdie on the 12th to end the back nine at even-par 36.

The flagship event of the season carries prize money of Rs1.55 million. Winner of the grand finale will be richer by Rs275,000, runner-up will get Rs175,000, third-place finisher will earn Rs122,000, fourth-place will take home Rs102,000 and fifth-place will pocket Rs88,000. Others in top 21 will also receive cash prizes.

The tournament will end with the Pro-Am event on Saturday. Around 100 players from the corporate sector will rub shoulders with 25 pros.