Gibson leads Banke at start of Bayonet Black Horse Amateur

Last month, Christian Banke came up one match short in the California Amateur. The San Diego State player has rebounded nicely, and now finds himself near the top of another leaderboard. Banke, of Danville, Calif., fired the day’s second-best score in the opening round of the Bayonet Black Horse Amateur.

Banke’s opening 4-under 68 included a front nine consisting of nine consecutive pars. He had five birdies and a bogey on the back. It was one shot short of leader Andrew Gibson’s 5-under 67.

Gibson is a Scotland native who plays for the University of Houston. He’ll begin his junior season in the fall.

Behind Gibson, the leaderboard has a heavy California slant. Nicklaus Rivera, a Pacific Grove resident, had a 3-under 69 for solo third. Rivera has finished inside the top 15 in this tournament each of the past two years.

Three men are tied for fourth at 2 under and eight more are at even par and tied for seventh.