PEBBLE BEACH – Bobby Bucey, a rising senior at Cal State- Chico, fired a six-under-par 66 at Spyglass Hill to establish a two-stroke lead after the first round of stroke-play qualifying at the NCGA Amateur Match Play Championship.

Bucey was third team NAIA All-America as a sophomore at Cal State-East Bay. The Oakhurst member took advantage of Spyglass’ tough opening ocean-hole stretch, carding four birdies in a row on holes 1-4 (his first four holes of the championship) leading to a front-nine 32. Earlier this year he captured the Las Positas Two-Man Championship with partner and Chico teammate Kyle Souza.

Tied for second are Anthony Barrera, the tournament director at the Ranch Club in San Jose, and incoming UC Davis freshman Matthew Hansen of Los Osos, a recent graduate of the Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy. Danny Paniccia of Riverbend is in solo third after firing a three under 69. A Fresno State graduate, Paniccia played on the Canadian Professional Tour from 2002-2006.

Three others are four strokes back of the lead, including Cal State Amateur champion Scott Travers, a rising Santa Clara senior and 2010 WCC player of the year and four-time NCGA Player of the year Randy Haag of Burlingame. Travers is an Association member of the NCGA and resides in Trabuco Canyon. A total of 12 players broker par, and of the top seven players, all bu Paniccia played in the morning round.

Of special note is the three members of the Rappleye family of Sacramento who qualified for the championship. Sons Grant and Cameron, who play at Sacramento State, both posted 76s while father Kevin has his work cut out for him the second round after an opening 92,

After tomorrow’s final round of stroke-play qualifying, the players with the low 32 scores begin match play Wednesday. Two rounds of match play are set for Wednesday, the quarter and semifinals will be contested Thursday and the scheduled 36-hole final is set for Friday at Spyglass Hill.