Joe Clark Jr. of Holderness, N.H., will defend his title beginning Wednesday morning as the 76th Maine Open Golf Championship gets under way at Riverside Municipal Golf Course in Portland.

Clark scored a 6-under-par 66 in the final round last year to edge Jeff Julian of Hartland, Vt., by a stroke.

Julian is also back this year, as is third-place finisher Paul Parajeckas of Woburn, Mass. Parajeckas had been co-leader or leader the first two days before falling back on the final day.

Other top contenders in the field of more than 200 pro and amateur golfers from around the world include Jerry DiPhilippo of Falmouth, tied for fourth last year; perennial contender Bob Darling Jr. of Auburn; 1991 winner Mike San Filippo of Hingham, Mass.; 1990 victor Pete Morgan of Harwich, Mass.; 1982 champ Charles Smith of Pawtucket, R.I.; and two-time winner (’79, ’85) Jeff Lewis of Sandwich, Mass.

One player who has been among the contenders the last few years who won’t be playing this year is Riverside assistant pro Tim Angis. Angis is competing in the PGA Championship at Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio, beginning Thursday.

The Maine Open field will play a second round Thursday before being cut down for Friday’s finale.