Amateur Rahul Biswakarma took sole lead after the third round of the Surya Nepal Premier Golf Championship at the par-72 Gokarna Golf Club on Wednesday.

Biswakarma carded a 6-under 66 on Day 3 to post a 54-hole total score of 16-under 200 and bested defending champion Subash Tamang. Tamang carded a bogey-free 5-under 67 to reach the total score of 15-under 201.

Biswakarma was sixth on Day 1 with professionals Rabi Khadka and Tamang taking the lead. On Day 2, Biswakarma tied with Tamang at the top of the leaderboard at 10-under 134.

And on Wednesday, Biswakarma climbed higher, this time alone, with a one-stroke lead over Tamang.

On Day 3, leader Biswakarma carded bogey-free 5-under 31 on the front nine with birdies on the first, second, third, sixth and seventh holes. He dropped a shot on the 11th hole and carded birdies on the 15th and 18th holes to finish the back nine at 1-under 35.

Meanwhile, Nepal’s No. 1 amateur golfer Sadbhav Acharya carded 5-under 67 to remain in third place with a total score of 13-under 203.

Niraj Tamang and Nepal’s No. 1 pro Bhuvan Nagarkoti are tied for fourth at 11-under 205. Bhutanese amateur Nim Dorji Tamang is sixth overall and third among amateurs with a total score of 8-under 208. He carded a 2-under 70 in the third round.

Biswakarma will have to keep his lead on Day 4 to win the Surya Nepal Premier Golf Championship, the biggest tournament of the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2024-25 season in terms of cash purse.