For Tom Caron of Bangor, the R.H. Foster Energy/Mobil Paul Bunyan Amateur Golf Tournament is one that he looks forward to every year.

“I always get excited,” he said Wednesday, chuckling as he thought about it. “I never sleep the night before, I’m up at the crack of dawn, and I never eat breakfast.”

The 35th edition of the three-day Bunyan Amateur gets under way Friday as nearly 450 competitors in three divisions at Bangor Municipal Golf Course, Rockland Golf Club, and Kebo Valley Golf Club in Bar Harbor.

Each division, arranged by handicap, rotates among the three courses. Class A opens at Kebo, moves to Bangor Saturday, and finishes at Rockland Sunday. Class B goes from Bangor to Rockland to Kebo, and Class C starts at Rockland, then proceeds to Kebo and Bangor.

With two-time champion Ed Flowerdew of Falmouth having turned pro last month, the championship trophy is up for grabs.

Caron believes he has a chance to win, something the 32-year-old golfer has been trying to do for about 15 years.

“I started in the mid ’80s and now it’s almost 2000 and I still haven’t won it,” he said as he hit balls on the driving range at Bangor Muni.

“I think my chances are as good as anyone’s,” Caron said, but he added that he was realistic, too.

“I’m looking for some competitive rounds [from the whole field]. I don’t think anyone will run away with it,” he said.

Caron also thinks it’s a good year for a new champion.

“I like the perennials, but I feel a new one will win it this year,” said Caron. “There are a lot of good players out there and they all deserve to win it.”

Caron pointed to Dave Mitchell of Ellsworth, last year’s runner-up, as a good possibility, as well as Mike Norris of Newburgh, who was third in ’98 and a contender for several years, and Ron Brown Jr. of Cumberland Foreside, who tied for fourth.

Mitchell is also hopeful that this might be his year.

He won the Bar Harbor Banking and Trust Tournament [formerly the Bangor Savings Bank Open] this year and posted a 3-under-par 67 at Rockland in the Maine State Golf Association weekly tournament last month.

But what gives Mitchell, also 32, more hope is consistency.

“I’m a lot more consistent than I used to be,” said Mitchell. “It used to be I could shoot 72 one day, then 85 the next.

“If my putting is on, then I’ll be right there.”

Mitchell points to two-time champ Bob Girvan II of Kenduskeag as one of his favorites.

“If I had to predict, I’d pick Girvan,” said Mitchell, then adding with a laugh, “if I happen to fall down and don’t win.”

Caron lost a little sharpness earlier this spring when his dad was hospitalized for 2 1/2 weeks.

“I stopped playing those 2 1/2 weeks,” said Caron. His dad is OK and out of the hospital now, so he can concentrate on golf again.

He is trying to regain his consistency.

“You never know when it will click in. What I’m hoping for right now is an overnight turnaround,” he said, joking.

Caron thinks he may have an ace up his sleeve.

After graduating from the University of Maine, he entertained thoughts of turning pro, as many young golfers do. Instead, he settled down.

“I got married, bought a house, and I have two cats,” said Caron. “Two cats.”

And therein lies his ace.

“I’m superstitious,” he said. “You know what their names are? Divot and Mulligan. And Divot’s favorite toy is a golf tee. He’ll fetch it and play with it.”

Caron and Mitchell said Kebo and Rockland are in good shape.

Bangor is a little drier than usual, said Caron, because of the new watering system being put in. They haven’t been able to water as they usually do. The bonus will be long drives, the downside is hard greens which could be tough to hold and putt fast.