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BANGOR – For many Maine people, part of the fun of living in the state includes inviting friends up for a little fun and relaxation.
Eric Bleile of Wiscasset has extended that invitation to a couple of his college golf buddies, and they have accepted enthusiastically.
All three will be playing in the $50,000 Greater Bangor Open, which begins today with a pro-am event before the 54-hole tourney proper begins Thursday, all at Bangor Municipal Golf Course.
Last year, Bleile invited Brian Komline, a resident of Gladstone, N.J., who was a teammate of Bleile’s at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, N.J. Komline came, saw, and nearly conquered as he finished second among the amateurs in the GBO.
This year, after transferring to Greensboro (N.C.) College, Bleile invited Komline plus new teammate Chad Unitas of Baldwin, Md.
“He told me about a big tournament up here in Maine, and if I wanted to play to give him a call,” said Unitas in a phone interview with the three on Tuesday. “I called, he took all the info, he called back and said I was in.”
Bleile said, “It’s a good chance for them to come up and have a little fun and hang out.”
Unitas, the son of NFL Hall of Fame quarterback John Unitas, flew into Bangor Tuesday morning and the three promptly went out to play a practice round.
“Brian was under par, and Chad and I were around 72 or so,” said Bleile, 21.
Unitas, 19, is in Maine for the first time, so Tuesday’s round was his first look at Bangor Muni.
“It’s a good course; kind of short, but other than that I liked it,” Unitas said.
Bleile is hoping to gain a measure of revenge this year because Komline beat him last year.
“I don’t think he’ll be beating me this year,” Bleile said good-naturedly, laughing a little and pointing out Komline was sitting only a few feet away.
“I played real well at school,” said Bleile. “I was No. 1 man, and the school was second in the country.”
He was less happy about his play at the recent Maine Amateur.
“I finished 13th at the Amateur, and I’m looking to play better at Bangor,” he said.
“I think Eric was a little upset I beat him last year,” said Komline, 24, laughing.
Komline said he hasn’t been playing well until recently.
“Monday, I was 2 under par to qualify for the Metropolitan Open [in New York],” Komline said.
All three are considering pro golf careers to some degree.
“If I start to play again like I did at school, the opportunity might arise,” said Bleile.
Unitas said, “I’ve had a love for golf since I was 6 years old. People who have seen me play say I have a future in it if I work at it.”
To that end, he puts in 5-7 hours of practice a day or plays a round.
He played football, basketball, hockey, and lacrosse growing up in addition to golf. Why didn’t he follow in his father’s footsteps?
“I thought about playing football in college, but my dad said I shouldn’t unless I wanted to get beat up,” Unitas said.
As for Komline, “It depends a lot on the end of this year. My last three rounds, I’ve been 6 under [total]. If I keep playing like that, then I’ll try it. If not, then I’ll go to work and stay an amateur for life.
“I enjoy the game. I’ll never give it up.”
Bleile hopes they can continue to get together, too.
“This is the only one we play together,” he said. “Hopefully, it won’t be our last one together.”
Today’s events include the long drive contest at 5:30 p.m.
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