A new era dawns Friday for the largest amateur golf tournament in New England when three of the state’s top women golfers tee off at 10:04 a.m. at Kebo Valley Golf Club in Bar Harbor in the 29th annual Bangor Daily NEWS Amateur Golf Tournament.

The event has always been open to women, but few have entered over the years since they were required to play from the men’s tees.

This year, Division E was introduced specifically for women, and 39 golfers jumped at the chance to participate in this prestigious tournament.

Defending Women’s Maine State Golf Association champion Martha White of Hampden, a 12-time titleholder, is paired with last year’s state runnerup Lori Frost of Calais and up-and-comer Julie Magoon of Norridgewock. White and Magoon each enter with a four handicap while Frost comes in with at six.

Five other women come in with handicaps of 10 or less and play Kebo Friday. The second top threesome, teeing off 1:08 p.m., will be six-handicappers Julie Green of Bangor Muni and Kebo’s Robin Emery-Rappa, with seven-handicapper Thea Davis of J. W. Parks in Pittsfield.

Completing the top field are 10-handicappers Tina Colburn of Bangor Muni, who tees off at 2:28 p.m., and Blanca Pickering, Penobscot Valley Country Club in Orono, teeing off at 2:36 p.m.

Recognizing that this year is a learning experience for the sponsor as well as the participants, the NEWS plans to fine-tune the program as interest warrants.

If the women’s division continues to be received favorably, reflected by increased participation, the NEWS may realize its ultimate goal of sponsoring a three-day amateur tournament specifically for Maine women golfers.

Trophies and prizes for the top players in the four men’s divisions will be reflected by similar trophies and prizes for the top players in the women’s division.

In this first event, due to numbers, the women have been loosely divided into four groups, each playing a different course rotation.

Magoon, the University of Maine and Shead of Eastport grad who is president-elect of the WMSGA, “is pretty excited” to be able to compete in the BDN Amateur.

“For years a lot of us women sat back and watched the men play, and now we have a division of our own,” she said. “We have three great courses to play.”

Magoon and her husband, Frank, are both entered, and will make it a long weekend of it. The couple will come in separate cars, however, and stay in Bangor since they will not be playing the same course rotation.

“This event is good for the women because our tournament (the WMSGA championship) is the only 54-hole, three-day tournament we have,” Magoon said. “This is nice because it is the same format except we play a different course each day.”

Magoon hopes, down the road, two flights will be offered for women so the higher handicappers have a better chance for prizes and, as word of the women’s division spreads, more women from the southern part of the state will enter.

“I am concerned about the speed of play and hope it doesn’t happen that some of the women get blamed for slow play,” Magoon said.

“It’s always been a stigma of women’s golf. Anybody can get in trouble on any hole. I just hope there isn’t any finger-pointing on either side.”

Frost had a busy spring, so her golf time was limited. “I coached tennis,” said the Calais educator and mother of three, “so the only time I could play was 4:30 a.m. to six. The day was packed. I wish we had lighted greens.”

The family will be camping in Trenton and her parents, Harley and May Belle Clark, will watch two of the children while the third stays with friends. Fortunately, Lori and Jim Frost are playing the same courses, although their starting times are not the same.

Frost is happy with the new women’s division, but hopes it will grow to accommodate more golfers. “Having one division is better than none,” she said.

Not concerned about winning or losing, Frost said, “I just want to get out there and have a good time. If that (winning) happens, well, it will be great.”

The Women’s Division E, as of June 14, included 39 golfers. Those helping make BDN Amateur history, in alphabetical order, are Judy Allen, Kebo; Janet Anderson, Pine Hill of Brewer; Kit Bartlett, PVCC; Sandi Bourgoin, Bangor Muni; Judy Chamberlain, Hillcrest of Millinocket; Judy Collins, Pine Hill; Polly Crook, Wawenock of Walpole; Karen Feeney, Hermon Meadow; Sharon Fitzgerald, Springbrook of Leeds; Lorraine Gardiner, Wawenock; Lynn Hand, Bucksport; Eileen Harding, Kebo; Irene Janes, Hillcrest; Carol Kus, unattached; Ann Lang, unattached, Marlene Lord, Calais; Linda Martin, Hillcrest; Bernadette Michaud, Fort Kent; Kathleen O’Hara, Hermon Meadow; Cheryl Paulson, Hermon Meadow; Cathy Pease, Bangor Muni; Carol Pottle, Wawenock; Sharon Preece, Waterville; Veronica Robb, St. Croix of Calais; Sue Roberts, PVCC; Elizabeth Russell, Bangor Muni; Lorrie Stymiest, Pine Hill; Jean Sweetser, Piscataquis of Guilford; Viola Webb, Hermon Meadow; Deborah Wiley PVCC; and Jean Young, PVCC.