Gorgone eyes future career as golf teacher> Nicolay likes Canadian Tour

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CAPE ELIZABETH — Where once it looked like he would blaze his way into the ranks of touring pros who make the run at the PGA Tour, Topsham native Sean Gorgone feels he’s destined for a different career path now.

Teaching.

“That’s been my focus for the last year-and-a-half,” said Gorgone, who won four Maine Amateur Golf Championships between 1987 and 1991.

“I still like to play,” he said after Thursday’s second round of the Wendy’s Maine Open at Portland Country Club in Falmouth Foreside. “But I guess I was always destined to go this way [teach].”

Gorgone, who has been giving lessons from time to time at Nonesuch River Golf Club in Scarborough, would like to put together a more formal setup somewhere in Maine during the summers.

“It would be for all players,” said Gorgone. “I want them to be able to improve easily. I think I can make it easy for them.”

Gorgone gets a special thrill when a lesson clicks for a student.

“When I help someone or assist them — it doesn’t even have to be a lesson — it’s very nice,” said Gorgone.

“When the light bulb goes off and they understand what I’m teaching them, then they understand how to do it, then they actually go out and do it” gives Gorgone a good feeling.

When they’re ready to take their game to a new level, Gorgone said he goes searching again for the key which will unlock the principle for the student.

“There are all different ways for all different people,” he said.

Gorgone would especially like to work with junior golfers.

“I want to set something up with the juniors with the [Maine State Golf Association] next year,” said Gorgone.

Overall, he said, “I would probably have two 1 1/2-month stints up here, if it works out that way.”

One would be in late spring, the other in late summer.

And he doesn’t want to just teach people personally. He’d like to reach a broader market, also.

“I’d like to turn videos on course management and shotmaking into CD-ROMs,” said Gorgone. “I think it would be a great benefit to a lot of people.”

He has a lot to balance, including a wife and family along with videos, teaching, CDs, and also a book.

“I know what I want to get accomplished,” he said. “Sometimes I do have a timetable, and then I’ll just let it flow.”

It’s difficult to work tournaments into his busy schedule, which includes working toward his PGA Class A card at Black Bear Golf Club in Grand Cypress, Fla. That explains why he has played in only four in the last year.

“It’s really a vacation [this time],” said Gorgone, who brought his family with him.

He also played in the Greater Portland Open in June and tied for 10th.

“It’s tough to balance it all,” Gorgone said. “I miss the players, the camaraderie, the competition.”

On the other hand, “I don’t miss grinding it out, not playing well, struggling to play well.”

Such was the case Wednesday at The Woodlands when he shot 82. Thursday he came back with a 71.

“The game is still there,” he said. “It can potentially be better.”

Babies by the bushel

Parker became the third top-10 player to say his wife is pregnant.

The other two were first-round leader Todd Setsma and low Maine pro John Hickson of Bath Country Club.

Parker was pointing out how handy second-place money [more than $3,500] would be.

“There’s a new baby coming, we’re putting siding on the house, and putting in new windows,” he said, putting the baby’s arrival in the proper priority compared to the other items.

Parker’s wife is expecting in a couple of weeks.

“Certainly before the New England Open,” he said of the tournament which returns to The Woodlands and Portland Country Club this September.

He may still need to work a little on his priorities.