Former top pro Sukra Bahadur Rai won the title of Surya Nepal Challenge, the seventh event under Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2024-25, at the par-68 Royal Nepal Golf Club (RNGC) on Friday.

Rai fired a brilliant 6-under 62 in the fourth and final round to post a record-winning total of 17-under 255, breaking the previous RNGC tournament best of 15-under 257 set by amateur Sadbhav Acharya at the Surya Nepal Kathmandu Open earlier this year.

Rai defeated fellow pro from Dharan, Niraj Tamang, by four strokes to claim his 11th major career title. He received Rs110,000 in prize money. Niraj finished second at 13-under 259 after he carded 6-under 62; he earned Rs70,000 as the runner-up.

Winner Rai was three strokes ahead of Bhuwan going into the final round, and he extended the lead with four consecutive birdies on the second, third, fourth and fifth holes. Rai took the turn at 4-under 30, and he opened up a six-stroke lead over Tamang and Rokka after the completion of the front nine.

Tamang carded a 2-under 32 on the front nine, while Rokka played 1-under 33. Rai began the back nine with an eagle on the 10th hole and carded birdies on the 13th and 14th holes. He dropped shots on the 12th and 18th holes to finish the back nine at 2-under 32.

Tamang carded birdies on the first, fourth and fifth holes before facing a bogey on the seventh hole. He carded 4-under 30 on the back nine after he sank an eagle on the 10th and carded birdies on the 12th and 18th holes.

Similarly, Dinesh Prajapati carded 3-under 65 and came third at 8-under 264 to best Bhuwan Kumar Rokka. Rokka finished fourth at 7-under 265 after he shot 1-over 69.

Prajapati climbed to third after he carded 1-under 33 on the front nine and played 2-under 32 on the back nine. He dropped shots on the eighth and ninth holes against five birdies on the first, fourth, seventh, 11th and 16th holes. Rokka faltered to 2-over 36 on the back nine and slipped to fourth place.

Sanjay Lama carded 3-under 65 and came fifth at 5-under 267, while three pros—Toran Bikram Shahi, Rabi Khadka and Basanta Raj Gurung—shared the sixth position at 4-under 268. Toran played 1-under 67, Rabi carded 2-under 66 and Basanta carded 3-under 65. They received Rs30,000 each in prize money.

Meanwhile, Nepal’s No 1 pro Bhuvan Nagarkoti (66) was ninth at 1-under 271, while Ramesh Adhikari (69) was 10th at 2-over 274. They received Rs24,000 and Rs21,000, respectively.

On the other hand, national team golfer Rahul Biswakarma won the amateur section title with the total score of 3-over 275. Biswakarma played 2-over 70 in the final round and he recorded a one-stroke victory over Nischaya Jung Rayamajhi. Rayamajhi played second consecutive 2-over 70 for a total score of 276.

A total of 47 golfers, 36 pros and 11 amateurs, took part in the 72-hole tournament. Surya Nepal Pvt Ltd Deputy General Manager (Marketing) Keshav Pradhan, PGA Nepal President Rabindra Man Shrestha, Adviser Ghana Shyam Thapa, Nepal Golf Association President Tashi Ghale and RNGC Captain Mithun Rai handed over prizes to the winners.

The tournament will conclude on Saturday with a Pro-Am event, in which amateur golfers will rub shoulders with professionals.