Former top pro Sukra Bahadur Rai extended his lead to three strokes after the third round of the Surya Nepal Challenge, which started on Tuesday, at the par-68 Royal Nepal Golf Club on Thursday.

Rai carded a 5-under 63 on the third day for a 54-hole total score of 11-under 193. He is three strokes ahead of Bhuvan Kumar Rokka going into the final round.

Rai took the turn at 3-under 31. He carded birdies on the first, second, fourth and eighth holes, and he dropped a shot on the third hole. He then carded birdies on the 11th and 12th holes to finish the back nine at 2-under 32.

Rokka, on the other hand, carded four birdies on the fourth, seventh, eighth and ninth holes before taking the turn at bogey-free 4-under 30. He carded 1-under 35 on the back nine after he dropped a shot on the 16th hole against birdies on the 12th and 13th holes.

Rokka also carded a 5-under 63 to move up to second at 8-under 196. Rai and Rokka shared the first-round lead after they carded 7-under 61 each. However, it was Niraj Tamang who produced the best card of the round, scoring a 6-under 62, and jumped to third position with a total score of 7-under 197.

Third-placed Tamang played a bogey-free round, carding three birdies each on both halves. He made a blistering start with birdies on the first, second and fourth holes, while he added three more birdies on the 10th, 13th and 15th holes.

Dinesh Prajapati slipped to fourth at 5-under 199 after he played an even-par 68. Toran Bikram Shahi moved up to fifth at 3-under 201. Shahi carded a 4-under 64 in the third round.

Meanwhile, defending champion Rabi Khadka and Sanjay Lama are tied for sixth at 2-under 202. Khadka carded 3-under 65, and Lama shot 1-under 67.

Jayram Shrestha and Basanta Raj Gurung share the eighth place at 1-under 203. Shrestha carded 3-under 65, and Gurung played 2-under 66 in the third round.

Ramesh Adhikari and Nepal’s No 1 pro Bhuvan Nagarkoti are tied for 10th place at 1-over 205. Adhikari carded 4-under 64, while Nagarkoti played 2-under 66.

In the amateur section, national team golfer Rahul Biswakarma extended his lead to three strokes over Nischaya Jung Rayamajhi. Bishwakarma carded an even-par 68 in the third round for 1-over 205, while Rayamajhi played 2-over 70. Rayamajhi is second at 4-over 208.

The 72-hole tournament carries a cash purse of Rs600,000. While the main event will conclude on Friday, there is a ‘Pro-Am’ event on Saturday in which amateur golfers will team up with professionals.