BANGOR, Maine — The tees, greens, and grounds were soggy, but that didn’t seem to bother many of the pros who were literally getting the lay of the land and scouting greens during Wednesday’s Greater Bangor Open Pro-Am Tournament.
Two-time GBO champ Matt Donovan of Pittsfield, Mass., certainly wasn’t complaining after carding an 8-under-par 63, the low score of the day at Bangor Municipal Golf Course.
“When I was driving up here yesterday for 6½ hours in the rain, I figured it wouldn’t be great, but I’ve played in worse conditions and on courses in worse shape than this with all the rain we’ve had this year,” Donovan said. “The biggest things today are the greens. They’re soft and receptive and that means you can be more aggressive and go for broke.
“Most years you just bounce on them. When it’s hard and fast, it doesn’t allow you to hit a bad shot and still make pars,” added Donovan, who won the GBO in 2004 and 2005. “[The moisture] could make it more wide open and bring a lot more people into play.”
Windham native and defending GBO champ Shawn Warren wasn’t smiling quite as broadly as Donovan after shooting a 69.
“I didn’t really play that well today. I didn’t putt too well,” said Warren, who turned pro at the age of 21 three years ago. “I think they’re going to get the greens a little quicker tomorrow. They don’t usually do that too much before and I was kind of putting them like I normally do. It was hard to adjust.”
Warren and Donovan were part of early groups that had to slog across some soggy turf and play under a gray, forbidding sky that was so overcast, it was impossible to make out anything other than a shadowy outline of U.S. Air Force refuelers even when the loud airplanes were directly overhead.
Later on, the skies lightened and the course was noticeably less squishy.
“Yeah, tomorrow could be a totally different ballgame,” said Donovan, who has played in the GBO every year since 2002. “We’ll be playing different tees, so it’ll be a different course tomorrow, length-wise and also with pin placement.”
For most of the pros, Wednesday was a chance to kill two birdies with one stone: scout out the course before the actual tournament begins and have some fun.
“Absolutely. It gives me a chance to see how the greens will run, but it’s also a chance to meet some new people and catch up with friends we don’t too often,” said Donovan. “Plus, we can win some money.”
Warren is always glad to have a chance to play in his home state.
“For me, a lot of times I just like a chance to get out there and play a day before I have to get serious,” said Warren, who is playing in this third GBO. “It’s fun. It’s just totally different being out there in a pro-am compared to the focus and intensity you put into a tournament. I’d find it kind of counter productive to be as intense in a pro-am as I am for a tournament.”
Other top scores came from Ross McGee, Eric Egloff and Brendan Ray, who shot 64s; James Gilleon (65); and Pier Roy (67).
Warren isn’t letting his status as defending champ alter his approach. In fact, the Marshall University alum is eager to begin defense of his title.
“I’ve thought about it a little, but I don’t think it adds pressure,” he said. “I don’t think it’ll work as a negative at all. I always seem to play well up here.”
Both Warren and Donovan have been affected by the nation’s current economic downturn and they say it’s had a noticeable effect on the pro golf tour.
“Especially in New England,” Warren said. “It used to be a great region for tournaments and would attract a lot of pros up here, but there aren’t as many now. I’m playing 10 tourneys this summer.
“For me it’s changed things. I’ve started teaching more and working in the shop at Dune Grass Country Club in Old Orchard Beach, whereas before I didn’t find a need to do other work because I played more.”
Donovan said the last two years have been especially tough for the Northeast tour.
“Well, this year we’re down at least a couple tournaments, but from previous years, we’re down about seven,” he said. “We used to have a 10-event tour and now it’s down to five. Three years ago, you could play as many as 22 or 23 tournaments in a full schedule. Now you’re lucky if you’re playing 16 or 17.”
Donovan also noted that primary tourney sponsors are financial institutions that haven’t fared well recently.
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