BANGOR – Tovie St. Louis of Royal Palm Beach, Fla., had caddied for her father Dan for a few years before finally playing in her first Hollywood Slots Greater Bangor Open golf tournament in 2006. Then all of a sudden it looked like her summer golf trips to Maine were finished when the 41st GBO wrapped up last year.

“We would have still come up, but in the fall,” said St. Louis, whose father is an Orono native.

The return of the tournament, though, was welcome news.

“[Bangor Municipal Golf Course head pro] Brian [Enman] called and told Dad as soon as they knew the tournament was back on,” said the 20-year-old amateur, who was playing a practice round Tuesday. “I changed my tournament schedule around so I could come here.”

The 42nd GBO kicks off today at Bangor Muni with the pro-am, and the 54-hole tourney runs Thursday through Saturday.

The field is smaller than it has been in the past – 103 players, including 88 pros and 15 amateurs, according to Enman.

“We hoped to have about 120,” he said.

GBO president Rob Jarvis thinks that the quick rise in fuel prices as well as uncertainty in the New England tourney schedule were factors.

“Travel budgets have definitely been hurt,” said Jarvis, an assistant pro at Bangor.

And because it appeared the GBO was done after last year’s tourney and the North American Pro Golf Tour, which had scheduled an event for the same weekend as the GBO last year, folded, the number of tournaments available to play in was potentially way down.

“I think guys were in limbo,” said Jarvis. “They have to play every week [to stay sharp and to make money].”

With the GBO’s revival and the new Golfers Warehouse Tour joining the New England schedule, the area is more attractive to players, but they may not have been able to adjust their schedules.

“It boils down to players enjoy coming to the New England area,” said Jarvis.

That is the case for the St. Louises, although Dan won’t be here this time. He’ll be playing in Ireland instead in a South Florida PGA Section event.

“He’s very disappointed,” said Tovie. “It’s all on my shoulders this year.

“We’ll have to see who finishes better. There’s always that father-daughter challenge.”

Fundraising for the GBO went much better this year, according to Enman.

“Sponsorships came in well. They are up in all categories,” he said.

In addition to Hollywood Slots, there are 15 gold sponsors ($1,000 each) and more than 40 silver sponsors ($300 each).

“The pro-am is the largest it’s been in years,” said Enman.

An added feature this year is that the pro-am gross and net champion teams will be taken by stretch limousine to the sponsors’ cocktail party at Hollywood Slots.

The long-drive contest will begin at approximately 5 p.m.

The golf course is a little wetter than usual due to this week’s rains, said Enman.

“I’d like to see it dry out a bit. If it stays as is, the scores will be a little bit lower than usual,” Enman said. “They’ll be able to throw the ball in and stop it just about anywhere.”

The forecast is for more showers late Wednesday and early Thursday, but drier days are forecast for Friday and Saturday.

“We’ll keep our fingers crossed and deal with it,” said Enman. “We’ll have a winner at the end somehow.”

Jarvis is upbeat compared to how he felt last year when he thought he was prresiding over the last one.

“I’m already looking forward to next year,” he said.

GREATER BANGOR OPEN

Site: Bangor Municipal Golf Course

Schedule: Wednesday – pro-am; Thursday through Saturday – 54-hole tourney

Field: 88 pros, 15 amateurs

2007 champ: Rob Oppenheim of Andover, Mass. (7-under 200)

dbarber@bangordailynews.net

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