Bunyan tourney applications fall again

Applications for the 40th Whited Ford Paul Bunyan Amateur Golf Tournament, scheduled for June 18-20, are down for the second straight year, according to tournament director Skip Chappelle.

“We have around 265 [entries],” said Chappelle on Wednesday. He said that last year’s total was about 320.

“The only sense I can gather is that golfers could be struggling,” said Chappelle.

Plus there are a lot of other tournaments competing for players.

“There is just so much golf going on,” he said.

There is another possibility, Chappelle said.

“It could be something to do with the spring weather,” he said of the season’s wet start in April and May. “Guys are just starting to get out, get their games together.”

But, said Chappelle, late entries are still being accepted.

The fee for the three-day tournament is $84. Players will be split into three divisions by handicap and the divisions will rotate among three courses – Bar Harbor Golf Course in Trenton, Bangor Municipal Golf Course, and Rockland Golf Club.

Entry forms are available at many Maine golf courses and online at www.paulbunyangolf.com.

Starting times have been determined for those entrants who have already signed up and they are scheduled to be published in Friday’s NEWS.

Bourque makes U.S. Open

Biddeford native Casey Bourque qualified for next week’s U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y., by completing a two-day total of 3-under-par 139 Monday in a sectional qualifier at Canoe Brook Country Club in Summit, N.J.

“It’s every golfer’s dream,” said Bourque in a press release.

Bourque, 27, won the Maine Amateur Golf Championship in 1995 and has competed in the U.S. Amateur in 1997 and the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship in 1996 and ’98.

Bourque, a graduate of Florida Southern University, is now an assistant pro at Lake Winnipesaukee Golf Club in Wolfeboro, N.H. He has also been competing on the Canadian PGA Tour.

Bourque tapped in a 3-inch birdie putt on the final hole Monday to avoid an 11-man playoff for the final spot. Twenty-two players out of the field of 138 advanced to the U.S. Open.

PGA Tour players David Morland IV of Canada and J.P. Hayes of El Paso, Texas, shared the qualifying medal at 8-under 134, two strokes ahead of PGA Tour player Tom Carter of Palm Beach, Fla.

Bourque was paired with Carter for the two rounds and said it helped.

“He cruised,” said Bourque. “It was helpful to play with someone who’s made it before and expects to make it. It’s a different mentality from the guys who haven’t done it, and it rubs off on you.”

Bourque beat out PGA Tour pros Ricky Barnes, Loren Roberts, Jeff Sluman, and Brett Quigley, among others, for his spot.

Baker playing in CPC

Mike Baker of Milford will be competing in the 37th PGA Club Pro Championship June 24-27 at Longaberger Golf Club in Nashport, Ohio.

Baker, an assistant pro this year at Sugarloaf Golf Club in Carrabassett Valley, is one of two Mainers participating in the event. The other is Bob Darling Jr., head pro at Fox Ridge Golf Club in Auburn.

The low 25 scorers in the CPC qualify for the 86th PGA Championship scheduled for Aug. 12-15 Whistling Straits Golf Course in Kohler, Wis.

Baker took the same route to qualify for the 1999 PGA Championship at Medinah (Ill.) Country Club, where he shot 155 over the first two days and missed the cut.

Dave Barber can be reached at 990-8170, 1-800-310-8600, or by e-mail at dbarber@bangordailynews.net.