Joe Collins not thinking of a win

When a male golfer is in the “A” flight of the Bangor Daily News Amateur tournament, somewhere in the back of his mind he’s thinking about playing three good rounds and winning the event.

When a player is in the “B” flight, he’s thinking about putting together one good round. Period. Then it’s on to the next round.

Citing this distinction, Joe Collins of Winthrop refused to even entertain the notion he might be in contention for the 29th edition of New England’s largest amateur tournament, even though he found himself tied for the lead with a 69 after Friday’s first round.

“I don’t even think about that,” said Collins, after coaxing six birdies and giving back four bogeys to finish two-under at windless and benign Bangor Municipal Golf Course Friday morning. “I’m not even playing it one round at a time. I’m playing it one hole at a time.”

Collins’ hole-by-hole method was good enough to tie Lennie Cole of Hampden, who fired a 1-under-par 69 at Kebo Valley Golf Club in Bar Harbor in the A flight.

That Collins, 46, was low man in the B flight wasn’t surprising. Even his being tied for the overall lead can’t be viewed as a complete shock. A year ago he had played the BDN Amateur for the first time – in the A flight. His handicap at Augusta Country Club had slipped just enough in a year – from 5 to 7 – to move him out of the faster company.

“I knew I was capable of doing this,” said Collins, a lefthander. “The question is, can I do it again?”

Based on the tournament’s history, the odds are against it.

No “B” flight player has ever won the overall title in the event, formally the Paul Bunyan Amateur. Then again, why should it be considered impossible? The courses are generally set up slightly easier for the “B” flight, which works to the advantage of borderline “A” players like Collins.

“I thought the course was very fair today,” Collins agreed.

If Collins remains in contention Sunday, two easier course set-ups are the only advantage he’ll have had. The tournament rotation calls for Collins to play Kebo Valley Golf Club in Bar Harbor in Saturday’s second round, the site played by the A flight Friday. Should he still be in the hunt after Kebo, he would then be moved in with the leaders in the A flight for Sunday’s final round at Bar Harbor Golf Course in Trenton.

“I’ve never played Kebo,” Collins said, when asked how he thinks he’ll do on his next round.

Collins credits his game to Augusta CC, which he joined a few years ago after playing prior to that at Natanis.

“I play with good players on a good course, and that definitely helps you,” he said.

Although he played some golf in his youth, Collins was only a casual golfer until well after he graduated from college.

“I didn’t start playing seriously until eight or nine years ago,” said Collins who, despite his protestations, may just be a serious contender for the BDN title.