Mar 15, 2016- The Surya Nepal NPGA Match Play golf tournament tees off here at the Royal Nepal Golf Course on Tuesday.
Top 16 professional golfers under the 2014-15 order of merit are eligible to compete in the tournament, the sixth event held under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2015-16. All ties will be played over 18 holes except for the final, which will be played over 36 holes on Thursday.
The first round comprises of eight matches, while the quarter-finals and semi-finals will be played on Wednesday. The final and third-place decider will be played on the final day.
Top ranked Shivaram Shrestha will take on 16th ranked Sanjeev Nepali on the opening day. Eighth ranked Rame Magar is pitted against ninth ranked Ramesh Adhikari as fourth ranked Rabi Khadka plays 13th ranked Pashupati Sharma. Fifth ranked Surya Sharma is up against 12th ranked Dinesh Prajapati.
Among the other first round fixtures, sixth ranked Deepak Thapa Magar is up against 11th ranked Jayaram Shrestha. Third ranked Bhuwan Nagarkoti will meet 14th ranked elder brother Ramesh Nagarkoti, seventh ranked Dhana Thapa will rub his shoulders against 10th ranked Bal Bhadra (Mani) Rai. Deepak Thapa Magar will play against Mani Rai and Nepal No 2 Sanjay Lama will meet 15th ranked Yelember Adhikari.
The eventual champions will walk away with a cheque of Rs 50,000. The second-placed golfer will earn Rs 30,000 and the third-placed pro will bag Rs 22,000. Golfer finishing fourth is assured of Rs 18,000. Four quarter finalists will receive Rs 10,000 each with the eight other first round losers set to earn Rs 5,000 each.