Kathmandu: Nepal Golf Association (NGA) on Friday announced to organise the 11th edition of Nepal Amateur Open Golf Championship featuring golfers from five South Asian Countries. 

The event to take place at the par-72 Gokarna Forest Golf Resort will be held from June 3 to 5, said NGA general secretary Deepak Acharya amidst a press conference in Kathmandu. “The 54-hole stroke play championships will bring together leading golfers from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Sri Lanka and host Nepal,” said Acharya. 

According to NGA, altogether 55 golfers have registered for  the event including 10 from India, four from Sri Lanka and two each from Bangladesh and Bhutan. The registration is open for Nepali golfers until June 1 and NGA has expected participation of 30 Nepali golfers. A cut will be applied after 36 holes in the men’s division and the top 60 percent of the golfers will advance to the final round. 

A separate women’s championship will also take place with participation of 10 Indian and Nepali golfers. 

The event also includes a team championship in the men’s category where each participating country has nominated two players, except for hosts Nepal, which has nominated two teams. Sadbhav Acharya and Rahul Bishwakarma will represent Nepal ‘A’ and the players included in Nepal ‘B’ will be declared on Saturday. The team title will be decided based on combined score over the first 36 holes. 

NGA president Tashi Ghale said that the Association was planning to introduce a ranking system for youth golfers under 16 years age category.