A large contingent of former champions is headed to Bangor to try to add another jewel to their crowns in the $35,000 Greater Bangor Open golf tournament this week.

The 26th edition of the tourney gets under way Wednesday with the pro-am.

The race for the $5,500 first prize begins Thursday morning and continues through Saturday afternoon’s finale.

Previous winners who are scheduled to be vying for a chance at an addition to their championship resumes are Jeff Lewis of Cummaquid, Mass., Mike Baker of Bangor, Rich Parker of Lebanon, N.H., Bob Mattiace of Jacksonville, Fla., Jeff Grygiel of Syracuse, N.Y., Paul Barkhouse of Woburn, Mass., Ed Waitr of New York Mills, N.Y., and Mark Plummer of Manchester.

Lewis is the only multiple winner with victories in 1982 and 1985, Baker was a co-champion in the rain-shortened 1986 event, Mattiace won in 1987, Grygiel beat Lewis in a one-hole playoff in 1983, Barkhouse won in 1972, and Waitr was the victor in the first GBO in 1967.

Plummer was the only amateur to win the GBO when he took the title in 1979 after regaining his amateur status. The low pro that year, Don Robertson of Dallas, is also making his annual pilgrimmage.

Another top Maine pro competing is four-time Maine Amateur titlist Sean Gorgone of Topsham.

While the field of 165 players filled fairly easily, the tournament committee did have to work harder this year to raise the necessary funds to put on the tournament as the state’s economy remains sluggish.

As of Tuesday morning, committee members were within a couple of thousand dollars of last year’s fund raising, which treasurer Jim Maynard thinks is a good effort considering the lack of a strong upsurge in business among local companies.

It can be seen most clearly in the list of $1,000 sponsors. Last year, there were 11. This year there are eight.

They are Bangor Mall, Bangor Savings Bank, Bangor Roofing and Sheet Metal, Dead River, Dunlap Insurance, Duds ‘n Suds, New England PGA, and Pepsi-Cola.

Where it may hurt the most is with the tournament’s designated charity, Maine Special Olympics.

A lack of available funds may cause the donation to be less than it has been in recent years.

Bangor Candy is continuing its sponsorship of the popular driving contest, which is scheduled for Wednesday at approximately 5 p.m.