MANCHESTER — Eight past champions and a change of venue highlight the 94th Charlie’s Maine Open, which begins today and concludes Wednesday at Augusta Country Club.

It’s a rare journey away from Cumberland or Androscoggin County for the crown jewel event of the Maine State Golf Association. The open hasn’t been played outside Greater Portland or the Lewiston/Auburn area since Bangor Municipal hosted in 1972.

This year’s 36-hole tournament is the ninth open played at Augusta but the first since 1960.

Michael Carbone of Brewster, Mass., returns to defend his title. Carbone defeated Maine professionals John Hickson and Shawn Warren in a 2011 playoff.

Carbone made par on the extra hole at Falmouth Country Club. The playoff was necessary after Warren, the 2004 champion, gave away a two-shot lead on the final hole in regulation.

The field of 156 golfers will tee off from holes No. 1 and No. 10 throughout Tuesday morning and afternoon.

That roster will be cut Wednesday to include the low 50 players, including ties, and anyone within 10 shots of the lead. No fewer than 10 Maine pros and 20 amateurs will play on the second day.

In addition to Carbone, Hickson (2008) and Warren, other past champions in the field are Dustin Cone (2010), Ricky Jones (2006), Kyle Gallo (1999), Jerry DiPhilippo (1995) and Don Robertson (1981).

Jones, of Thomaston, was the most recent amateur to win the open, prevailing at Fox Ridge Golf Club in Auburn

This year’s field includes 76 open pros, 19 Maine pros and 61 amateurs.

Carbone, Hickson and three-time Maine Amateur champion Ryan Gay will tee off at 7:30 a.m.

Other notable starting times are Warren with John Elliott and Allan Menne of Poland Spring at 7:40 a.m.; Jones and Plummer with Tim Desmarais at 12:40 p.m.; and Cone with Andrew Bradford and Spencer Plante at 2:10 p.m.

Tournament week kicked off Monday with a pro-am, which is the largest annual fundraiser for the MSGA Scholarship Fund. The MSGA awarded $78,000 in scholarships to 13 high school students from throughout the state this year.