Kathmandu: Rabi Khadka took one stroke lead over defending champion Subash Tamang on the curtain raiser of the Surya Nepal Premier Golf Championship, the eighth and final event of the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2024-25, at par-72 Gokarna Golf Club in Kathmandu on Monday.

Rabi carded 5-under 67 in the first round to stay at the top of the leaderboard, while Subash carded 4-under 68 in his first tournament of the season. Nepal No 1 pro Bhuvan Nagarkoti and Dhana Bahadur Thapa are tied for third at 3-under 69 along with amateur duo Nim Dorji Tamang and Rahul Biswakarma.

Niraj Tamang and Bishnu Prasad Sharma share seventh position at 2-under 70 while veteran pro Deepak Magar, Ram Krishna Shrestha and amateur Wangchen Dhondup are tied for ninth at 1-under 71. 

Pros Shivaram Poudel and Dinesh Prajapati along with amateur duo Tashi Tsering and Sadbhav Acharya are tied for 12th position at even-par 72.

Leader Rabi carded 4-under 32 on the front nine after consecutive birdies on the sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth holes. He played 1-under 35 on the back nine after he dropped a shot on the 13th hole against birdies on the 12th and 17th holes.

Defending champion Subash took the turn at 1-over 37 and he bounced back strongly with 5-under 31 on the back nine. He carded a birdie on the sixth hole against bogeys on the fifth and seventh holes. He carded birdies on the 10th, 12th and 16th holes and he sank an eagle on the 15th hole.

A total of 37 pros and 18 amateur golfers are taking part in the 72-hole tournament. Cut will be applied after 36 holes, with top 21 pros and ties along with amateurs making the pros cut will advance to the final two rounds.

The biggest tournament of the season in terms of cash purse, the event carries a total prize of Rs1.6 million. The winner of this season-ending event will walk away with Rs300,000 and other pros in top 21 will receive their share of cash prizes.