An old hand on a familiar course playing in unfamiliar conditions moved into the lead of the $45,000 Greater Bangor Open golf tournament Friday.

Gus Ulrich of Garner, N.C., the 1989 winner of the GBO, posted a 5-under-par 64 at Bangor Municipal Golf Course for a two-day total of 6-undeAR

Ulrich, who also finished fourth in 1990, leads Larry Rentz of Mamaroneck, N.Y., and Tom Carter of Northboro, Mass., by a single stroke entering Saturday’s final round. Rentz, who finished third behind Ulrich in 1989, shot a 65 Friday for his 133 and Carter matched Ulrich’s 64.

At 134 are 1986 co-champion Mike Baker of Bangor, who shot a 68 Friday to go with his opening 66, and Barney Thompson of Ormand Beach, Fla., who posted a 65 Friday.

Amateur Edward Reevey of Riverside, New Brunswick, heads a five-man group at 135. Reevey shot a 67 Friday. He was matched by Don Robertson (68) of Dallas, ’92 runnerup Geoff Sisk (63) of Marshfield, Mass., first-round leader Victor Leoni (71) of North Miami Beach, Fla., and R.J. Nakashian (67) of Boca Raton, Fla.

“This is the first year I’ve played the wind hasn’t blown,” said Ulrich. “It’s conducive to good scoring.”

That it was, as 25 players scored under par for the first two days and another seven matched par.

As did many of the players with the better totals, Ulrich played in the morning Friday.

He started on the 10th hole, and made three pars before starting a string of three straight birdies on No. 13.

“They (the putts) were all about 8 to 10 feet,” said Ulrich.

After two more pars, he bogeyed 18 for the second straight day.

“I hit a good drive, right on the 150 (marker),” said Ulrich. “I should have hit 8-iron, but I hit a little 7-iron over the green on the left. It was a difficult up-and-down, and I missed a 6- to 7-footer for par.”

Ulrich got back on the birdie track on No. 2 when he hit his pitching wedge approach shot 3 feet from the cup.

On the fourth hole, the only par-5 hole on the card, he chipped to 6 inches. “It was a tap-in birdie, which was nice,” said Ulrich.

He birdied the par-3 sixth hole again when he hit his 4-iron tee shot 15-20 feet from the cup and sank the putt. He parred out from there.

“I feel great. I’m enjoying the New England coolness, though this is freezing to me,” said Ulrich. “It’s so hot in the Carolinas, this is a treat.”

Rentz is trying to keep on an even keel after he set himself up for a second run at the title and the $8,000 which goes with it this year.

“I’ve got no complaints,” he said. “I made a few 12-foot putts. I’m not missing many greens, and I’m hitting the ball well.

“It just becomes maintaining patience on the greens.”

Rentz also started on No. 10. He parred his first hole, then hit his tee shot stiff to the pin on 11 and made birdie, and added another birdie on 12 by sinking an 8-foot putt.

After two more pars, he got to 4 under par for the day with birdies on 15 and 16. “I made a couple of 12-footers there,” he said as he made the turn in 30.

He two-putted for birdie on No. 4, and sank a 15-footer on No. 5 for birdie to go to 6 under par.

Bogeys on the next two holes moved him from the lead back into second.

Rentz is willing to bide his time Saturday.

“You’re not going to force birdies here,” he said. “You’re not going to slam-dunk anything even though the course is playing short.”

Carter was unusual among the leaders as he started in the afternoon.

He birdied No. 4, then went birdie, bogey, birdie on Nos. 7-9 to make the turn in 33.

On the back, he added birdies on 12, 14, 15, and 17 to tie for the lead, but he bogeyed 18 to fall one back.

The cut was 145 for pros, 152 for Maine pros, and 154 for amateurs.

The final round will start at 7 a.m. with the leaders going off at 1:09 p.m. They will start on No. 10 as the nines are flopped for the final round.