FALMOUTH – Sixteen players advanced to match play competition in the 83rd Maine Amateur Golf Championship, but 15 sets of eyes were on one man, defending champion Mark Plummer of Augusta.

Plummer did not have the best two-day score at Falmouth Country Club. In fact, a second straight 2-over-par 74 put him at 148 and in sixth place.

But even the man who tied for the best total, Tom Bean of Kennebunk, knows not to count out Plummer, who has won this event a dozen times.

“He’s still the man to beat until proven otherwise,” said Bean, who earned the No. 1 seed and won’t have to face Plummer until Friday’s championship round, if they both get that far.

This morning’s winners advance to this afternoon’s quarterfinals. The semifinals are Friday morning.

Bean carded an even-par 72 Wednesday, tied for the best round of the day, for a 141 total. Seventeen-year-old Shawn Warren of The Woodlands Club in Falmouth shot a 73 to match Bean’s 141, but because Bean posted his score first, he was given the top seed.

“I did want, definitely, to come in first,” said Warren, the first-round leader.

He would have finished as medalist except for a wayward drive on the 435-yard, par-4 18th hole.

The hole doglegs to the right with mounds and bunkers short and long of the landing area. Warren’s tee shot went right and bounced into the heavy grass near the pond which cuts across the fairway.

Warren, using a pitching wedge, made good contact with the ball, but couldn’t clear the bunker in front of the green. He blasted out and two-putted for bogey and a 73 that dropped him into the tie with Bean.

They crushed the rest of the field, though, as winds sent scores generally higher compared to Tuesday’s opening round.

Jay Livingston of Hermon and Ben Daughan of York tied for third at 147. Livingston had a 74 Wednesday, Daughan a 73.

James Frost Jr. of Calais was fifth with 76-148, tied with and followed in the seedings by Plummer, Joe Alvarez (73) of Veazie, Keith Patterson II (72) of Saco, Mike Nowak (74) of Augusta Country Club in Manchester, and Scott Dewitt (74) of Biddeford.

Ricky Jones of Rockland, winner of the 2001 R.H. Foster/Mobil Energy Paul Bunyan Amateur Golf Tournament, finished strong to record a 76 and come in 11th at 149. He gets to face Plummer in today’s quarterfinal round.

The two tangled in last year’s semifinals, and Plummer prevailed, but the match went two extra holes before the outcome was decided.

Jones was happy to make the top 16 because it didn’t look too good for a while.

“I was 5 over [for the day] after the first seven holes,” said Jones. He played the rest of the round 1 under par to advance to match play.

“I played the back 1 under yesterday, too,” said Jones of Tuesday’s round. “I knew if I could make a birdie and hang on, I’d be OK.”

Bean, who finished third in the Bunyan last month, thinks he might be playing even better now.

“This is the first time where I put together two good rounds,” said Bean. “I timed it well.”

Part of playing better came from adjusting one club.

“I changed the grip on my putter and added weight to the bottom. It feels real good,” said Bean. “It’s improved the confidence in my whole game.”

Another part came from practicing more.

“I’ve hit a lot more balls in the last week or so getting ready for this,” he said. “I’m less a mechanical player and more a feel player. I need more practice to get in a groove.”

Scores from the first two days mean nothing now, though, as every match starts from scratch.

“Once it gets to match play, it’s anybody’s game,” said Bean.

Warren hopes to make it his game. He shot well in the qualifying rounds last year, too, but was eliminated in the first round.

“Last year, I was almost satisfied to make the cut,” said Warren. “This year I feel like I haven’t accomplished anything yet.”

Plummer, who played with Warren – and Jones – the first two days, isn’t counting Warren out.

“He seems a lot more consistent this year,” said Plummer. “He’s more confident. I don’t see any weak parts in his game.”

On the other hand, Plummer feels like he’s in his element now.

“I just wanted to get this part over,” said Plummer. “I don’t like medal play. It’s too much like work.”