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KATHMANDU, July 21 – Nepal’s top amateur golfer, Sadbhav Acharya, has officially departed for the United States after earning a landmark full scholarship to compete in NCAA Division-I golf while pursuing his undergraduate studies at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). He becomes the first Nepali golfer ever to secure such a scholarship for participation in the NCAA Division-I—the highest level of collegiate amateur golf in the world.

Sadbhav's selection follows a string of impressive performances, notably at the Junior PLAYERS Championship in the U.S. and the Faldo Junior Tour European Grand Final in Abu Dhabi in 2024. These results caught the attention of UTSA head coach Matt Wernicke, who offered Sadbhav a place in the university’s prestigious golf program.

Over the next four years, Sadbhav will pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing Management while being part of UTSA’s seven-member men’s golf team. Each season, five players are selected from the squad to compete in at least 13 NCAA tournaments, with team rankings and individual performances impacting national standings. His teammates include four Americans, two Mexicans, and himself—adding diversity to the team lineup.

As an NCAA Division-I athlete, Sadbhav will gain membership at TPC San Antonio, a PGA Tour venue and home to the Valero Texas Open. He will train at the club’s world-class 36-hole facility. In addition, he has been invited to Callaway's global headquarters in San Diego, where he will receive top-tier golf equipment facilitated by UTSA’s coaching staff.

Before officially beginning his college career, Sadbhav will participate in the Final Stage Qualifying for the 125th U.S. Amateur Championship on July 30 in Ohio, further showcasing his potential on the international stage.

Speaking about the milestone, Sadbhav’s father, Deepak Acharya—General Secretary of both PGA Nepal and the Nepal Golf Association—said the scholarship marks a historic moment for Nepalese golf. The four-year package, which includes academics, training, travel, medical care, and rehabilitation, is estimated to be worth around USD 1 million.

Currently ranked 184th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, Sadbhav is Nepal’s undisputed No. 1 amateur golfer. A product of Gokarna Golf Club, he began playing golf at the age of four and has grown into one of Nepal’s most decorated golfers across both amateur and professional circuits.

In 2024, Sadbhav won 7 of 8 national tournaments hosted by the Nepal Golf Association. In 2025, he made history at the Nepal Amateur Open, shooting a course-record 12-under-par 60, and finishing with a 20-under total, securing both individual and team gold medals.

His rise extends into the professional realm as well. At just 16 years and 10 months, he became the youngest-ever winner of a professional golf event in Nepal, claiming the Surya Nepal Challenge (March 2023). He later won the Surya Nepal Central Open and the NPGA Tour Championship 2024, and set a tournament record 15-under-par 257 at the Surya Nepal Kathmandu Open.

Internationally, Sadbhav made headlines in 2024 after winning the Faldo Series European Grand Final (17–21 age group) and finishing overall runner-up. In January 2025, he won the 38th Bangladesh Amateur Open, becoming the first Nepali golfer to do so. He also helped Nepal secure team titles at the 36th and 38th editions of the same event.

Now, as Sadbhav steps into the fiercely competitive NCAA Division-I circuit—a proven pathway to the PGA Tour and elite professional golf—he carries with him not only his talent but also the hopes of an entire nation.