Toran Bikram Shahi extended the lead to three strokes after the second round of the Surya Nepal Central Open, the first event under Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2024-25, at the par-72 Gokarna Golf Club on Tuesday.

Shahi carded second consecutive 5-under 67 for 36-hole total score of 10-under 134. He is three strokes ahead of second-placed Sunil KC, who carded 3-under 69 for a total score of 7-under 137. Nepal number one pro Bhuvan Nagarkoti slipped to third at 6-under 138 after he played 2-under 70.

Amateur Rahul BK climbed to fourth overall at 5-under 139. He carded 3-under 69 and is four strokes ahead of Sadbhav Acharya in amateur section. Defending champion Acharya carded 3-under 69 to move up to second and sixth overall. Dharan pro Niraj Tamang is fifth overall at 3-under 141 after he carded 3-under 69 in the second round.

Rajendra Thapa Magar (72) is seventh at even-par 144, while Jayram Shrestha (72) and amateur Vijay Shrestha Einhaus (72) are tied for eighth at 1-over 145. Bhuwan Kumar Rokka is at the 10th position with the total score of 2-over 146 after he played 3-over 75.

A total of 27 golfers—21 pros and six amateurs—made it to the final two rounds after a cut fell at 13-over 157.

Former top pro Rabi Khakda, Pradip Kumar Lama, Rajendra Shrestha Pradhan, Krishna Man Rajbahak, Deepak Magar, Dinesh Prajapati, Dhana Bahadur Thapa, Sanjay Lama, Ramesh Adhikari, Tanka Bahadur Karki, Surya Prasad Sharma, Ram Krishna Shrestha, Kumar Kami and Kishan Kaliraj Sunar survived the cut. In the amateur section, Surendra Phuyal, Gajendra Gurung and Shivaram Poudel are the other three players who made the cut.

Leader Shahi took the turn at 3-under 33 and carded 2-under 34 on the back nine. He started off with a birdie on the first hole and added two more on the fifth and eighth holes on the bogey-free front nine. On the back nine, Shahi carded four birdies on the 11th, 12th, 13th and 16th holes but he also faced two bogeys on the 10th and 15th holes.

KC carded 2-under 34 on the front nine and played a bogey-free 1-under 35 on the back nine. He dropped a shot on the third hole before carding birdies on the fourth, eighth and ninth holes. KC then carded a birdie on the 15th hole and saved pars on eight holes.

Nagarkoti carded birdies on the third and seventh holes to take the turn at a bogey-free 2-under 34. He played even-par 36 on the back nine after he mixed three birdies with as many bogeys. He dropped shots on the 11th, 14th and 15th holes against birdies on the 12th, 16th and 17th holes.

Amateur section leader BK carded bogey-free 3-under 33 on the front nine with the help of birdies on the third, seventh and eighth holes. He carded three more birdies on the 12th, 16th and 18th holes but was undone with a double bogey on the 14th and a bogey on the next hole.

Defending champion Acharya took the turn at 3-under 33 and played even-par 36 on the back nine.

The season-opening tournament of the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2024-25 carries a cash purse of Rs882,000. Top three pros will receive Rs150,000, Rs100,000 and Rs75,000, respectively, while other pros in top 21 will get their share of cash prizes.