Hibler goes 2 under for early PNGA Mid-Amateur lead

BOISE, Idaho (Sept. 5, 2018) – Jesse Hibler of Meridian, Idaho, fired a 2-under 70 for a two-shot lead after one round at the 34th Pacific Northwest Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship. The 54-hole stroke-play championship is being played this week at Crane Creek Country Club in Boise, Idaho, a course that recently underwent a multi-phase, multi-million dollar renovation.

Hibler’s round consisted of four birdies total, and two in his last four holes. Those final two birdies, at Nos. 15 and 16, allowed Hibler to become the only player to dip into the red on Wednesday on the 6,918-yard layout.

Hibler, 40, played collegiately for BYU from 1996-2001. He won the 1993 and 1994 Idaho Junior Amateur.

Don Bidinger of Bainbridge Island, Wash., is two shots behind Hibler at even par. Bidinger had to birdie Nos. 17 and 18 to get there after a round that included three bogeys and a double at No. 4. The trio of Matthew Plumb (Portland, Ore.), Colin Guhlke (Davenport, Wash.) and Reid Hatley (Hayden Lake, Idaho) are close behind at 1-over par.

Two-time defending champion Michael Haack from Bellevue, Wash., withdrew on Wednesday.