BANGOR – Pro-am day in the Greater Bangor Open, like in most tournaments, is different from the regular portion of the tournament.

The tension level is much lower for the pros, a lot of whom are trying to refamiliarize themselves with Bangor Municipal Golf Course; the course itself is set up more for the benefit of the amateurs; there’s a buffet spread for the players; and the late afternoon driving contest brings out a lot of good-natured ribbing.

“It’s great before the tournament to have an enjoyable round of golf,” said Jim Nickerson, the pro at Val Halla Golf Course in Cumberland.

Wednesday’s pro-am round in the 35th GBO was especially enjoyable for Nickerson, who shot an 8-under-par 63, tied for the day’s low round with Jim Salinetti of South Lee, Mass.

Jerry Wood of Ridgeway, Va., was a stroke back at 64. Bob Darling, the pro at Martindale Country Club in Auburn; 1998 GBO winner Joe Cioe of Crystal River, Fla.; and defending champion Billy Downes of Hampden, Mass., posted 65s.

Nickerson gave part of the credit to his teammates, Kerry Stevens, Rich Russell, and Bob Bates.

“It was a good amateur group to play with, which makes it fun,” he said.

What also makes it fun is making birdies – or better.

He chipped in for eagle on the par-5 fourth and birdied the sixth and eighth holes.

“Those are the key holes on the front nine,” he said.

On the back, he birdied 15 and 16 and eagled 18.

“It was a pretty good ball-striking round,” said the 28-year-old Nickerson. “I only missed one green [No. 17] and that was on the fringe.”

But he thought it could have been better.

“I left a lot of shots out there,” he said. “I probably missed six birdie putts inside 10 feet.”

Nickerson feels he has been playing well this year, with a scoring average under 70 for the season, but something still isn’t quite right.

“I’m not as aggressive as I used to be,” said the tall, lanky Nickerson. “I’m not sure [why]. I haven’t figured that out.

“Maybe I’m not playing as well as I think.”

Three more days like Wednesday, even if the scores weren’t quite as good, would be fine with him, though.

“Three rounds in the 60s would be good. If I shoot 201 or 202, I’d have a shot at [winning] anyway,” he said.

Cioe continued his recent hot play Wednesday and looks forward to the tournament getting under way today.

“I’ve been playing good all summer,” he said. “If I get the putter going, I’ll be right there.”

Cioe has been playing on the New England Tour this summer, a new series of 10 three-day tournaments. Four have been held already.

“I have two wins and two seconds,” said Cioe, who also won the Maine Open in 1998.

Cioe doesn’t have the large build like a lot of the long hitters, yet with a new driver and ball, he has seen a marked change in length this year. And he likes it.

“On the first hole, I was on the back of the green,” he said. “I’ve never been within 20-30 yards of the green before.”

He, like Nickerson, knows the key to success at Bangor is making putts and staying under control.

“I hit it pretty good. I just didn’t make any putts,” said Cioe. “The course was there to be had.”

Cioe likes playing at Bangor, in spite of the fact that wind and putting can raise havoc with scores.

“People, especially the first-timers, think this course is easy,” said Cioe. “If they don’t make a lot of birdies, they get upset.”

He said, “For a short course, it really makes you grind, especially when the wind is blowing.”

That’s good for him.

“I like a course where you can grind,” he said.

Cioe noted that the rough appears to be thicker this year and that could affect scores.

“Right now, the course is semi-soft, but if the greens firm up, the rough will be tough,” said Cioe. “A lot depends on the wind.”

When play begins today, there will be a couple of changes made. Par drops from 71 to 69 because both par-5s on the back become par-4s, and different tees are used on Nos. 1 and 5. For Saturday’s final round, the nines will be reversed so that No. 10 will be the first hole.

Top prize in the $50,000 tournament is $10,000.