Sanjay Lama and Team Clinch Surya Nepal Eastern Open Pro-Am Title

Pro golfer Sanjay Lama led his team to victory at the Surya Nepal Eastern Open Pro-Am, held on Saturday at the Dharan Golf Club. Lama, along with amateur teammates Bhuwanesh Limbu, Bina Sapkota, and Shyam Limbu, secured the title with a combined score of 167 points. Lama contributed 41 points, while Bhuwanesh scored 43, Bina earned 42, and Shyam added 41 points.

The runner-up team, led by pro Bhuvan Nagarkoti, featured amateurs SSP Bhim Dahal, Purna Bahadur Rai, and Bal Bahadur Rai, finishing with 159 points. Nagarkoti scored 39 points, while each amateur teammate earned 40 points.

Pro Niraj Tamang and his team of amateurs Diwash Tuladhar, Siddhant Sapkota, and Sushma Singh claimed third place with a total of 155 points. Tamang scored 38 points, while his teammates each contributed 39 points.

In individual awards, Bina Sapkota was named the best female golfer with 42 points. Sanjiv Chhetri won the longest drive award on Hole No. 18, and SSP Bhim Dahal claimed the closest-to-the-pin award on Hole No. 17.

The Pro-Am tournament featured 60 participants, including 12 professionals and 48 amateur golfers. The event was concluded with prize distribution by Nepal Golf Association Vice-President Tilak Rai, Koshi Province Golf Association Vice-President Bharat Tamang, and Dharan Golf Club Secretary Deoraj Rai.

The main event, concluded on Friday, saw local pro Niraj Tamang win the 54-hole tournament with a record-equalling total score of 17-under 193. Tamang also set a new course record of 8-under 62 in the first round. Bishnu Prasad Sharma secured second place with a score of 7-under 203, while Bal Bhadra Rai finished third at 3-under 207.

The tournament, the third of the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2024-25, carried a cash purse of Rs. 882,000. Pro Ramesh Adhikari made a Hole-in-One on the eighth hole on the first day of the event.

The next event on the Surya Nepal Golf Tour, the Surya Nepal Western Open, is scheduled to take place next month at the Himalayan Golf Course in Pokhara.