Anybody who appreciates the history and tradition of the Charlie’s Maine Open is guaranteed to love this year’s renewal.

Nine past champions are entered in the 95th annual tournament, scheduled for Monday and Tuesday at Augusta Country Club in Manchester.

Combine that star power with the 36-hole format and the only dilemma promises to be which group to follow, particularly in the final round.

That unpredictability was on display a year ago, when Dustin Cone and Jimmy Lytle charged from deep in the field after day one. Cone backed up his opening 71 with a 66 and Lytle improved upon his 73 for starters with a blistering 64 to steal the show and force a sudden-death playoff.

While Lytle three-putted on the first playoff hole, Cone, a Vermont native now playing out of Port St. Lucie, Fla., produced a par for his second title in three years. Cone also captured the crown at Riverside of Portland in 2010.

Cone is back to defend the championship. Lytle is one of four past runner-ups entered in the fray, as well.

Arguably the most accomplished player in the field is Geoffrey Sisk of Marshfield, Mass.

Sisk, now 48, won the Maine Open at Casco’s Point Sebago in 1996. He has spent much of the interim campaigning on the PGA Tour and the second-tier Web.com Tour, combining for nearly $600,000 in career earnings.

The greatest achievement on Sisk’s golf resume, however, is qualifying for the U.S. Open seven times. He did it again this year, surviving an 18-hole local qualifier and a 36-hole sectional tournament to punch his ticket to Merion, where he eventually missed the cut.

“There’s part of me that says, ‘This is great,'” Sisk told the Associated Press in June. “The flip side is that if I can do this now — I performed well — why can’t I do this on the other levels? I’m my own worst enemy sometimes. But I just try to do the best I can.”

He’ll have to turn back the clock once again to etch his name in the Maine Open record book a second time. Joining Cone are five other players who have won the tournament since Sisk took top honors.

Michael Carbone of Brewster, Mass., the 2011 winner, is entered along with Maine professionals John Hickson of Topsham (2008) and Shawn Warren of Cape Elizabeth (2004). Warren was a 19-year-old amateur when he won the tournament.

The most recent amateur to top the field, Ricky Jones of Thomaston, is playing some of the best golf of his career.

Jones, 41, went wire-to-wire to win the Maine Amateur on the same par-70 Augusta track only three weeks ago. He also won the Paul Bunyan Amateur and competed in the USGA Public Links Championship in Virginia. His Maine Open title came in 2006 at Fox Ridge in Auburn.

Ryan Ouellette of Pflugerville, Fla., hoisted his trophy in 2002. Even deeper in the archives, you’ll find perennial Maine Open participants Jerry DiPhilippo of Gorham, the 1995 winner, and Don Robertson of Irving, Texas, the 1981 champ.

The flood of former winners doesn’t diminish the chances of a first-timer, however.

In addition to Lytle, the trio of Rob Roylance, Eric Egloff and Mark Baldwin all hope to go one better than their previous bridesmaid finish.

Other pros to watch include Jesse Speirs, 26, a Bangor native now playing out of Memphis, Tenn.; Jesse Larson, of Rutland, Vt., who carded a sizzling 63 on Thursday in the opening round of the Greater Bangor Open; and Jon McLean of Weston, Fla.

And how about the hometown favorites? As was the case at the Maine Amateur, ACC members Ryan Gay and Mark Plummer will have their say. Gay, a recent graduate of St. John’s University, turned pro earlier this month, while the indomitable Plummer’s local knowledge makes him a threat even in his 60s.

Leading the amateur contingent along with Jones are Tommy Stirling of Gorham, the runner-up in the state tourney; 2012 Maine Amateur champion Seth Sweet of Madison; and schoolboy champ Seth Grindle of Deer Isle.

Eight local players will tee off Monday. Area pros in the mix are Dave Bartasius of Poland, Chad Hopkins of Lisbon, Allan Menne of Poland Spring and Jace Pearson of Auburn. Amateur hopefuls are Craig Chapman and Zack DeBlois of Auburn, Andrew Slattery of Minot and Roger Williams of Turner.

The field of 156 players includes 120 professionals and 36 amateurs. There will be no cut for pros. The top 20 amateurs and ties will return for the second round.

Players represent 21 states and Canada.

It is the 10th Maine Open to be held at Augusta, which opened in 1916, two years before the inaugural open.

koakes@sunjournal.com

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