BANGOR, Maine — Robin Byrd said he has played on just about every golf tour in the world except the PGA Tour.
The Satellite Beach, Florida, resident said he had heard about the Greater Bangor Open and had wanted to play in it.
Now he will finally get the chance.
Byrd will tee off in the opening round of the 51st annual GBO at 9 a.m. Thursday as the three-day, 54-hole tournament gets underway at the Bangor Municipal Golf Course.
“I’m 57 years old now so I wanted to come and play it before it was too late,” said Byrd after Wednesday’s pro-am.
Byrd, who originally is from Fayetteville, North Carolina, and played college golf at Marshall University in West Virginia, said this is his first time in Maine.
“It’s awesome. I just wish it would cool off a little bit. I came up here for some cool weather,” quipped Byrd.
The GBO is right in the middle of Byrd’s New England tour.
He finished fifth in the Massachusetts Open and was third in the Connecticut Senior Open before coming to Bangor. He will follow the GBO by playing in the Maine, New Hampshire and Rhode Island open tournaments.
“I was leading after two rounds at the Massachusetts Open but had one bad hole in the third round, a triple bogey,” said Byrd. “I had some bad chips on that hole … hit the hill and rolled back, hit the hill and rolled back. Hit it over (the green).”
He said playing in tournaments with young players as opposed to playing in seniors (50 and older) events is a challenge.
“The young kids hit it so far compared to me. They’re tough to outrun,” said Byrd.
Byrd figured he has played golf in every country that has a golf course.
“I played in Russia twice,” said Byrd. “I’ve played on the Web.com Tour, the European Tour, the Asian Tour, the Australian Tour, the Japan Tour. What other tours are there? I also played on the Champions Tour.
“I love traveling. You never know what you’re going to see. I’ve seen bears, monkeys, kangaroos. I’ve seen them all. I was standing there hitting my golf shot on the 15th hole in Malaysia and 60 monkeys walked across the fairway. Some had babies hanging underneath them,” said Byrd.
Playing in Ireland tops his list of places to compete.
“It’s really nice. You’ve got rolling hills. The way the ball rolls … wispy grass and stuff … nature … being outdoors. I love all that stuff,” said Byrd.
When asked about career highlights, he quickly responded “17 holes-in-one.”
Byrd was impressed with Bangor Muni.
“It’s got some good holes. It’s a little more forgiving because it is a municipal course and it’s supposed to be for everybody. It has some good pins and tee shots,” said Byrd.
Bangor Muni assistant pro Brian Johnson said it probably will take a score of 12- to 15-under par to win.
“The course is in good shape. The greens aren’t overly fast,” said Johnson.
Johnson said defending champ Jesse Larson of Mendon, Vermont, had entered the tournament but suffered a back injury and had to withdraw.
Larson tied the course record with a 60 in the second round last year en route to a 15-under-par 192.
The man he shares the record with, Mike Van Sickle of Wexford, Pennsylvania, is back and will be a contender.
Van Sickle shot his 60 in 2014 and finished second that year on the fourth playoff hole to David Chung, who like Byrd is from Fayetteville, North Carolina.
Chung isn’t in the field.
Among other contenders will be Cody Paladino, Eric Egloff, Michael Carbone, Ryan Gay and Shawn Warren.
Warren won the tourney in 2008.
Marc Hurtubise, the 2009 winner, also is in the field, as is Tyler Sluman, nephew of former PGA Tour winner and current Champions Tour golfer Jeff Sluman.