BANGOR – It has been 10 years since Eric Egloff of Sandy Spring, Md., first came to Bangor and won the Greater Bangor Open, but he is ready to prove he can do it again.

“I came up to get Paul’s twin brother,” Egloff said with a smile Tuesday, speaking of the Paul Bunyan trophy that’s also presented to the winner along with a check for $11,000 out of a total purse of $50,000.

The tournament kicks off today with a pro-am followed by the three-day regular competition.

Also taking place today at 5 p.m. will be the driving contest, which will find Miss Maine USA Erica Commeau of Brewer making an appearance registering contestants.

Following the tournament’s conclusion Saturday, the top nine finishers will compete in the Chrysler Q-school Shootout, a skills competition in which the winner will have his approximately $4,000 entry fee into the PGA Tour National Qualifying Tournament paid for.

A victory last month in the Massachusetts Open shows Egloff still has the game to compete.

“I was in a six-hole playoff with Jim Salinetti [the 2001 GBO champ],” said Egloff. “I had to birdie the last hole to get into the playoff.

“First, it was a three-hole aggregrate total, then three holes of sudden death. I birdied 18 three times.”

Egloff will be seeing a lot of Salinetti, of Lee, Mass., again because they will play in the same threesome Thursday and Friday, along with 2004 runner-up Justin Goodhue of Glastonbury, Conn. Goodhue did win the Shootout, though.

Egloff, who also finished second in the Cleveland Tour’s first stop at Atkinson, N.H., is sponsoring himself this year and is trying to bank enough money to pay for a Q-school spot this fall because he believes he can still play on the PGA Tour.

“As long as I’m above ground, it will happen,” said Egloff. “I just turned 40. I have a lot of good years left.”

He will have a lot of competition at this year’s GBO, including defending champion Matt Donovan of Pittsfield, Mass., 2003 victor William Link IV of Acton, Mass., 2002 runners-up Ryan Ouellette of West Palm Beach, Fla., and amateur Jesse Speirs of Bangor, 1986 co-champ Mike Baker of Stratton, 1997 winner John Hickson of Newry, 2000 winner Billy Downes of Longmeadow, Mass., and current Cleveland Tour money leader Rob Oppenheim of Andover, Mass.

Current Maine Amateur champion Corey Poulin of Skowhegan will also be competing while former Husson College star Corey Pion of Bangor will make his pro debut.

Sister proves help to brother

Many a sister has treated her brother with disdain, not sharing in his pursuits, but don’t count Crystal Poulin of Jackman among that number.

When Corey Poulin’s regular caddy couldn’t be at the start of last week’s Maine Amateur in Boothbay, Corey knew where to turn.

“We’re close,” said Crystal of the entire Poulin family. “I was honored he asked me.”

It’s not as if Crystal, 20, has a lot of golf experience, though.

“I just started playing golf this year,” she said.

That didn’t matter to Corey.

“We talked about everything but golf between holes,” said Crystal. “We kept it lighthearted and fun.”

Corey Poulin appreciated that.

“She was great. I owe a lot of credit to her,” said the 27-year-old Corey. “She kept me laughing, smiling, and upbeat.”

Crystal had her anxious moments over the five days of competition.

“He definitely put my nerves to the max,” she said. But she was happy she did it.

“It was great I could share this with him,” she said.

Going for two

A survey conducted by the Maine State Golf Association at the Class B&C Championship at Penobscot Valley Country Club in Orono on July 5 showed overwhelming support for changing the format to a two-day tournament from the current 18 holes.

The vote, according to Tournament Director Romeo Laberge, was 62-4.

The event is split into two divisions: Class B for players with handicaps of 8-14, and Class C for handicaps above 14.

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