BANGOR – Taking a firm approach will likely be the key to winning the 41st and final Greater Bangor Open Golf Tournament, according to defending champion Marc Lawless of Aptos, Calif.

“The conditions are firmer this year,” he said of Bangor Municipal Golf Course after Wednesday’s pro-am round. “I don’t know if that’s better or not. You can get a lot more roll [on tee shots], but the greens are firmer, too.”

Two-time winner Matt Donovan of Pittsfield, Mass., agreed with Lawless that it’s just something that has to be adjusted for.

“[At] Bangor, you know what you’ve got to do,” said Donovan, who won in 2004 and ’05. “You’ve gotta play smart here, no ifs, ands, or buts about it.”

“The golf course certainly holds its own,” said Lawless. “It’s what, about 6,300 yards [6,416]? You think you should tear it up, but somehow….”

Lawless and Donovan will be among the favorites in the 123-player field, along with Scott Hawley of Shrewsbury, Mass., who Lawless beat in a playoff last year; Jim Renner of Attleboro, Mass., winner of the TD Banknorth Portland Open last month; ’95 GBO champ Eric Egloff of Bethesda, Md.; ’97 GBO victor John Hickson of Topsham; Jeff Seavey of Warren, and ’01 winner Jim Salinetti of Lee, Mass.

Top amateurs include Jesse Speirs of Bangor, runner-up in 2002; Mike Norris of Newburgh; Toby Spector of Waterville; defending low amateur Brad Wheatley of Shirley, Mass.; and Tom Caron of Bangor.

Lawless pointed to Hawley, who he faces regularly on the Canadian PGA Tour, and Donovan as players he’ll have to keep an eye on over the three days, but they won’t be the only ones.

“There are a lot of good players out here, definitely,” he said.

Donovan, the only back-to-back winner of the GBO, knows the feeling.

“If you look at the list, except for me, there’s a new winner almost every year,” he said. “Anybody can break out and win it.”

Lawless has four top-10 finishes on the Canadian Tour this year and stands 17th on the Order of Merit (based on earnings). He feels like he has a good chance of repeating as well.

“I’ve worked really hard on my short game, and I think it’s getting where I want it to be,” said Lawless. “And I’m putting really well and that helps out here.”

Donovan feels up to regaining his title.

“I was second at the Vermont Open, but I got first-place money,” he said. “An amateur beat me.”

He lost in a playoff during the first North American Pro Golf Tour event and was runner-up again last weekend.

“It’s been a good start and I’m comfortable coming in here,” said Donovan. “But you just can’t get ahead of yourself here.”

He pointed out, “You have to take advantage of your birdie chances and make sure your mistakes are in the right spots.”

Lawless and Donovan, along with fellow pro Jerry Wood, shared honors as low scorers in the pro-am with 7-under-par 64s. David Cummings of Wells, Salinetti, and Sean Clark of Miami Beach, Fla., were next at 65, showing how tight a tournament it might be.

“I look forward to defending,” said Lawless.

Tele Wightman of Chicopee, Mass., won the driving contest with a blast of 352.24 yards, followed by Salinetti at 351.42 yards and Speirs at 349.46.

One special event that will be missing this year is the Chrysler Q-School Shootout, which was held for the top nine pros at the end of Saturday’s final round.

Because there was a question about the number of pros who might be playing, said Bangor head pro Brian Enman, it was decided not to hold it this year.

PAST 10 CHAMPS

2006 – Marc Lawless, 200

2005 – Matt Donovan, 199

2004 – Matt Donovan, 198

2003 – William Link IV, 202

2002 – Paul Dickinson, 200

2001 – Jim Salinetti, 200

2000 – Billy Downes, 199

1999 – John Connelly, 202

1998 – *Joe Cioe, 206

1997 – John Hickson, 203

*-won in playoff