BANGOR – Barry Hobert of Brewer has had some success as a golfer over the years, but never nailed down the top spot in one of the state’s top amateur golf tournaments.

A change in strategy earlier this year, though, propelled him into a share of the lead Friday after the first round of the 34th CITGO Paul Bunyan Amateur Golf Tournament.

Hobert, who was twice the club champion at Bangor Municipal Golf Course, birdied his last two holes at Bangor to finish at 2-under-par 69, matching the scores of Mike Norris of Newburgh and Thomas Bean of Kennebunk.

Ricky Jones of Rockland, Eric Bleile of Wiscasset, and James Hogan Jr. of Old Orchard Beach are a stroke behind at 70.

Ron Brown Jr. of Falmouth Foreside, Keith Patterson II of North Waterboro, Jay Plourd of Rockland, and Chris Emerson of Hampden are tied at even-par 71.

Defending champion Ed Flowerdew of Falmouth led a large group at 72 despite a deep bruise on his left hand from being hit by a pitch while playing baseball recently.

In the “B” Division, Jeff Vanidestine of Orrington took the lead with a 5-over-par 75 at Rockland Golf Club. Randy Faas of Eastport leads “C” after recording a 6-over-par 76 at Kebo Valley Golf Club in Bar Harbor.

Of his new strategy, which he decided on after a spring trip to Florida, Hobert said, “I’m conservative from the tee to about 100 yards out, then I play aggressively. It gives me more birdie opportunities and I keep away from the big numbers.”

His strategy includes hitting mostly 3-woods off the tees instead of driver.

“I hit 12 fairways [out of 14],” said Hobert. “Using the 3-wood has helped me keep my game under control.”

Hobert is also playing more golf.

“I gave up my automotive career, and I’m working for myself,” he said, “and it’s given me more opportunity to play.”

Hobert was even par through seven holes before suffering a bogey on No. 8.

Then all was quiet again until the difficult, par-4 12th hole.

“My approach shot hit the pin and stopped 2 inches from the hole,” said Hobert. “That was an easy tap-in birdie.”

He made another on the next hole, suffered a bogey on 14, birdied 15, bogeyed 16, then finished with the two birdies.

“I’m looking forward to tomorrow,” the 50-year-old Hobert said. “I like Rockland, and Kebo I look forward to playing the most.”

Norris, one of the favorites coming into this 54-hole tournament, also played conservatively, but felt that he might have overdone it.

He used a 2-iron to tee off on Nos. 8, a long par-4 which doglegs to the right, and 18, a short par-5 dogleg-right. He bogeyed the former and parred the latter, although he said his par there felt like a bogey.

“They should have been driver,” said Norris. “Tomorrow, I’ll use driver there [at Rockland].”

Norris explained why he didn’t use driver on the final hole.

“If you want to stay in the hunt,” he said, “you don’t want to be out of bounds there and you don’t want to make 6 or 7 on that hole.”

Norris scrambled a bit, especially early, when he three-putted to bogey the first hole. He birdied the par-5 fourth, but bogeyed No. 8 to turn at 1 over.

He stayed there through 13, then strung together birdies on 14, 15, and 16.

“On the 16th, that was the key putt,” said Norris of his 7-footer.

He almost made another birdie on 17.

“It was about 4 feet. I putted it on the high side and it never even touched [the hole],” said a disappointed Norris.

Norris’ disappointment is compounded by his having turned 40 on Monday. He feels time is running out for him in his bid to win this tournament.

“I figure I have five more years of good golf left. I’d like to stick a feather in my hat and win it,” he said. “Maybe this is the year.”

Jones started fast with birdies on four of the first six holes, but then ran into trouble.

“I missed a couple of putts and it wore on me,” said Jones.

Still, he has confidence for the next two rounds.

“I feel good about tomorrow,” said Jones. “I haven’t been hitting the ball great, but I’ve still been under par a lot at Rockland.”

Bean’s birdie on No. 5 was his only non-par hole on the front, he took his first bogey on No. 12, then birdied 13, 15, and 16 before suffering his second bogey on 17.

Bleile went cold after making birdie on the first hole. He made the turn at 3-over 38, but he reversed his fortunes with four birdies for 32 on the back.

Hogan was 2 over after 12, but birdied the last three holes.

The “A” division will play at Rockland today and finish at Kebo Valley Golf Club in Bar Harbor on Sunday. The “B’s” will play Kebo and Rockland, respectively, while the “C’s” move to Bangor, then Rockland.

Recent Bunyan tourney champs:

1997 – Ed Flowerdew

1996 – **John Hutchins

1995 – Bob Girvan II 220

1994 – Mark Plummer

1993 – Mark Plummer

1992 – Brian Lawton

1991 – Alan Bouchard

1990 – Jamie Place

1989 – Mark Plummer

1988 – Mark Plummer

1987 – Dan Sargent

1986 – Troy Witham

1985 – Mark Plummer

1984 – Mark Plummer

1983 – Mark Plummer

1982 – *Bob Girvan II

1981 – Mark Plummer

1980 – Dave Brown

1979 – Mark Plummer

1978 – Ralph Noel Jr.

1977 – Bob Girvan II

1976 – Mark Plummer

1975 – Steve Conrad

1974 – Glenn Salwak

1973 – *Mark Plummer

1972 – Brian Enman

1971 – Rick Ambrose

1970 – John Sale

1969 – Rick Ambrose

1968 – Dave Bradberry

1967 – Dave Bradberry

1966 – Bill Martin

1965 – Vince Ferrara

(*-won sudden-death playoff)

(**-shortened by rain to one round)