Nepal's number one pro golfer Neeraj Tamang has taken the lead on the first day of the Surya Nepal Eastern Open Golf with a brilliant score of 6-under 64. At the Dharan Golf Club, Neeraj trailed Tanka Bahadur Karki and Balbhadra Rai by 3 strokes at the end of 18 holes. Tanka and Balbhadra are in joint second place with a score of 3-under 67.

Former number one golfers Shukra Bahadur Rai and Bhuvan Nagarkoti shot 1-under 69, while amateur golfers Prakrit Tamang and Rahul Bishwakarma tied for fourth place. Ravi Khadka, Jayaram Shrestha and Suman Pariyar, who shot an even-par 70, finished in joint eighth place. 

Defending champion Neeraj made a strong start, making a bogey on the second hole. Birdies on the third, fifth, sixth and ninth holes helped him to a front nine of 3-under 33. He then saved shots on the 12th, 13th, 16th and 18th holes. He made a bogey on the 15th hole and a back nine of 3-under 31. Tank, on the other hand, missed a shot on the second hole while finishing the front nine of 1-under 35.

He made two consecutive birdies on the eighth and ninth holes. He then saved shots on the 14th and 18th holes, making a bogey-free back nine of 2-under 32. In the second competition under the Surya Nepal Golf Tour 2025/26, Dharan's veteran pro Balabhadra played a bogey-free front nine and birdied the third and seventh holes to score 2-under 34. He made a bogey on the 10th hole and finished the back nine at 1-under 33 with birdies on the 15th and 18th holes. Rahul and Prakrit are leading in the amateur category with 1-under 69. Ram Tamang finished third with 1-over 71.