SANFORD – Two days of rain and the prospect of more Thursday and Friday has brought up the possibility of extending the Maine Amateur Golf Championship into the weekend.

That’s something that Nancy DeFrancesco, executive director of the Maine State Golf Association, was not looking forward to.

“As accommodating as they [the club] have been, I’m sure they would [let the tournament extend into Saturday],” said DeFrancesco. She’s just hoping she doesn’t have to ask.

Course superintendent Jim Dion doesn’t know how much more rain the course can take.

“We got an inch-and-a-half here [Thursday] in 15 minutes and it took us all weekend to recover,” he said.

“They had just finished topping off the bunkers with new sand,” said DeFrancesco, “and it washed away nine of them.”

The cart paths suffered as well.

“If that [11/2 inches] happens again, they’re only going to have trails,” said Dion.

Plus the tournament, already scheduled to be the longest in the history of the Maine Amateur, could get longer. That might drop future participation even more.

“We were down 30 players [in the June qualifiers],” said DeFrancesco. “I think it was because of the length of the tournament. Not everybody can get that much time off.”

Gary Manoogian of Westbrook, who qualified for match play for the first time this year, is one of the lucky ones.

“I own my own Italian restaurant, Casa Novella,” he said. “I can take off all the time I want.”

Few other players are as fortunate, though.

“I’m sure the [tournament] committee will be talking it over again this fall,” said DeFrancesco.

Long drive qualifier

Maine’s only qualifier for the RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship will be held Saturday at Rocky Knoll Country Club on Route 15 in Orrington.

Competition will be held in several categories: men’s open, men’s senior (45-54), men’s super senior (55 and up), women’s open, junior boys (15-17) and junior girls (15-17). The contest is open to all amateurs and professionals.

The entry fees are $30 per six-ball attempt for men’s open and men’s senior, $20 for men’s super senior and women’s open, and $10 for the two junior divisions. Each contestant must declare his or her division prior to competition.

Registration begins at 10 a.m. and competition will start at 11 a.m. The rain date is Sunday.

The maximum club length is 52 inches, and the club must be on the group’s list of conforming clubs.

Winners advance to the district championship Aug. 8 at Pleasant View Golf Park in Enfield, Conn. From there, winners advance to the national championships Oct. 19-23 at The Palms Golf Club in Mesquite, Nev.

For more information, contact Chris Murphy at (207) 326-2452 or go to the Web site www.longdrivers.com.

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