State Amateur Golf : May and Banke Lead Qualifying by 4 Strokes

Bob May of La Habra and Dana Banke of Castro Valley shared the second-round lead at four-under-par 140 despite problems on closing holes Tuesday in the 75th California Amateur golf championship.

May, a 17-year-old high school junior at Los Altos High School in Hacienda Heights, shot a three-under-par 69 at Pebble Beach Golf Links despite hitting his tee shot out of bounds on the par-5 18th hole.

May, who won the Southern Section high school individual championship in May, had six birdies, including four on the front nine, and a bogey.

Banke, 24, who plans to turn professional in August, shot his second straight 70, even though he took a triple bogey on the par-3 16th at Cypress Point Club when he four-putted the green.

He posted seven birdies, including five straight on holes 5 through 9, and had two bogeys.

Four shots off the pace at 144 was Eric Woods of Newport Beach, who had a 70 at Cypress Point. He was followed by Mark Gilmartin of Reno, one of the first-round co-leaders, who shot a 75 at Pebble Beach for 145.

Larry Silveira of Oakley and Casey Boyns of Pacific Grove were at 146. James Camaione of Ontario and Gary Nichols of West Covina are among four players at 148.

Sixty-nine players with scores of 157 or better advanced to today’s third and final round of qualifying. The field, originally 200 players, will be cut again to the low 32 for the start of match play Thursday at Pebble Beach.

Double rounds of match play are scheduled for both Thursday and Friday to pare the field to the two finalists, who will play 36 holes on Saturday for the championship.