Poulin tips Jones, wins 1st Amateur Family relishing victory

BOOTHBAY – For several years, she has celebrated each good shot by Corey Poulin, agonized over every miscue, congratulated him on his good rounds, consoled him when the day didn’t turn out so well.

Friday, Denise Poulin wept as she was finally able to give him a victory hug after her son won the 86th Maine Amateur Golf Championship at Boothbay Country Club.

“I just felt he worked so hard for this,” she said. “It still doesn’t seem real.”

Poulin defeated two-time defending champion Ricky Jones 2 and 1 in the afternoon final to earn the title the 27-year-old Jackman native has sought for more than a decade.

“When he was at his first qualifier at Riverside [Municipal Golf Course in Portland], Mark Plummer walked by,” said Corey’s father, Glenn, describing Corey’s first encounter with the now 13-time Amateur titlist. “[Corey] was so nervous he had to sit down.

“Now he’s champion.”

Corey was in a daze afterward as well. He had come close to winning in 2001, the first year of the match-play format for the Amateur since 1973. Plummer defeated Poulin on the second playoff hole.

“It’s nice to finally do this,” said Poulin. “It’s an absolute dream.”

Poulin’s dream came true on the 17th hole when Jones’ 14-foot par putt to halve the hole came to rest two inches to the right of the cup.

Jones shook Poulin’s hand as Jones’ reign ended.

“This feels weird to walk off not winning,” said Jones. “It’s been a while.”

In addition to the past two Amateurs, the 33-year-old Jones has won the last two Whited Ford Paul Bunyan Amateurs and last year’s Barrett East Coast Amateur in St. Andrews, New Brunswick.

“I think I’m just tired,” said Jones. “I’m mentally exhausted.

“It’s different when everything goes right and you cruise through. When you have to work at it, it takes its toll on you.”

Poulin forced Jones to make the putt when his own 15-footer from the right collar swooped down the severe slope, hit the pin, and slowly rolled around the edge of the cup before falling off on the low side and stopping six inches below the cup.

“I was thinking we were gonna be in the same spot,” said Jones, who had had to chip from the rough from above the hole. The chip rolled by a couple of inches to the left of the hole and stopped 14 feet away. “He hit a good [putt]. It should have gone in.”

Jones conceded that putt and lined up to hit his. An exhausted Poulin didn’t know if he could handle Jones making it.

“It dawned on me, ‘I wonder if I can play another hole,”‘ said Poulin.

Both of them had to win semifinal matches in the morning before competing for the title in the afternoon. Poulin, now living in Skowhegan, defeated Joe Alvarez of Bangor 3 and 2, while Jones downed Todd Kirn of Kennebunkport 5 and 4.

Poulin never trailed against Jones, but he was never able to get too far ahead, either.

He was 2 up after eight, but Jones won No. 9 and No. 11 to get it back to even. Poulin then birdied the next two to take charge again.

They halved 14, and Poulin thought he was going to win 15 when his tee shot on the par 3 stopped on the back center of the green while Jones’ tee shot fell short of the green.

“I thought I was going to be 3 up with three [holes] to go again. Actually, I’m glad I didn’t do that,” said Poulin.

That was how Poulin stood against Plummer in 2001 before Plummer rallied to send the match into the playoff.

They halved 15, and Jones cut the lead to one hole by draining a 12-foot birdie putt on 16. Poulin didn’t give Jones another chance.

“It’s nice to finally pull through,” Poulin said.