ORONO – In May of 2000, Corey Poulin walked away from golf.

Despite having just graduated from the San Diego Golf Academy in Myrtle Beach, S.C., the Jackman native was simply burned out on the sport.

“I didn’t like golf. I couldn’t even watch it on TV,” Poulin said. “I had to get away from it.”

The bad feelings didn’t last long. Three years later, the 25-year-old Poulin appears to be near the top of his game. Today, he’ll lead the Husson College golf team into the 69th New England Intercollegiate Golf Association Championship at the Captains Golf Course in Brewster, Mass.

Poulin is a senior co-captain for coach Bruce MacGregor’s Braves, who sport a sparkling 65-1 match record this fall as they seek their third straight New England Division III title in the two-day, 36-hole competition. Poulin has won six tournaments this season, posting a nifty 71.08 stroke average.

“That’s got to be the best anyone’s ever averaged [in Maine college golf],” MacGregor said. “Watching what he’s accomplished this fall has been one of the highlights of what I’ve witnessed in athletics.”

Poulin is the top performer on a Husson squad that also includes senior co-captain Joe Finemore of Sidney (77 average), sophomore Ross McGee of Fairfield (75.8) and a talented group of freshmen led by Heath Morang of Gardiner (77), Robby Picard of Vassalboro (78), Devon Raymond of Waterville (78.5) and Lance Libby of Oakland (79).

Brian St. Louis of Argyle and Timothy Talpey of Jackman are the other first-year players.

“Our per-round average is 299, which is pretty amazing,” MacGregor said of Husson best four scores each match. “It’s the lowest we’ve ever had. I believe it’s a state record.”

Leading the way is Poulin, whom MacGregor coaxed away from a job as a golf club builder and repairer at Joseph’s Sporting Goods in Waterville to Husson’s Bangor campus in August of 2002.

Poulin had graduated from Forest Hills High School in Jackman back in 1996, then enrolled for a year at Thomas College in Waterville. After some time off, he headed south to Myrtle Beach, and back.

MacGregor’s timing proved perfect for Poulin.

“Coach called me, convinced to come down, and it’s the best thing I ever did, coming back to finish school here,” said Poulin, who plans to graduate next spring with a degree in business administration.

MacGregor has marveled at Poulin’s play and his approach to the game for the Braves.

“Corey adds a real calming, stabilizing, no-nonsense type of force to the team,” MacGregor said.

Poulin began hitting golf balls at age 8, along with his twin brother Tim, at the urging of their grandfather. Poulin learned to play at Moose River Golf Course, a par-31, 9-hole layout in Jackman.

Ever since, with the exception of the summer of 2000, Corey Poulin has been passionate about becoming an outstanding golfer.

“I used to brush my teeth and eat with my left hand, because I knew it would make my wrist stronger for golf,” said Poulin, who now is contemplating the possibility of playing on a minitour next year. “I like to compete and play. I’m definitely getting more serious about it.”

Today, Poulin hopes to help Husson maintain its reputation as one of the top golf programs in the Northeast.