Corey Poulin, who won the Maine Amateur Golf Championship last year after several tries, has embarked on a career as a playing pro.

It has turned out to be an enlightening experience.

“There was a lot of stuff I didn’t budget for,” he said. “It’s a learning experience, for sure.”

Poulin decided to turn pro while working at Coral Creek Club in Placida, Fla., over the winter.

The opportunity presented itself this past winter,” said Poulin, who is at 1-over-par 141 after completing the second round of the TD Banknorth Portland Open at Riverside Municipal Golf Course in Portland on Friday. “I got a few sponsors together, and here we go.”

The three sponsors are members at the club, where he has worked the past three winters.

“There was one guy I caddied for who had offered to sponsor me in the past, but I didn’t take him up on it,” said Poulin. “I didn’t think I was ready.”

The club member offered again, and Poulin said yes. The first member brought in two more as sponsors.

“It snowballed from there,” said Poulin.

Then it was time to pull everything together.

“It was four months ago when I knew,” said Poulin. “That’s when I started practicing. It’s a whole different thought process [playing as a pro]. There’s a whole mindset you have to go through.”

Part of it is playing with other peoples’ money.

“You want to play well for your sponsors,” Poulin said.

He will have to pay back the sponsorship money eventually and he said that weighs on a player, too. Even if it is self-imposed.

“They say there’s no pressure, but I feel like there’s pressure,” said Poulin.

He admitted his pro career got off to a slow start when he played recently in the Vermont National Open, the opening event on the New England Pro Golf Tour (formerly the Cleveland Golf Tour).

“I didn’t play well in Vermont,” he said, “but I did get a hole-in-one. That was exciting.”

He is scheduled to play five more NEPGT events as well as five open events. Later this month, he’ll play in the Greater Bangor Open Golf Tournament sponsored by Hollywood Slots at Bangor, followed by the Maine Open in August.

While he’s in the area, he’s staying with his twin brother Tim in Skowhegan and practicing at Lakewood Golf Club.

“They gave me a membership so I have a place to practice,” he said. “I played there the last few years and they were nice enough to help me out.”

Poulin won’t miss not having a chance to defend his Amateur title.

“I’m doing something I wanted to do for a long time,” he said. “I reached my goal [of winning the Amateur].

“I want to feel like I fit in, so now it’s time to win as a professional.”

Junior GBO

Entries are now being accepted for the Junior GBO tournament to be held Thursday at Bangor Municipal Golf Course.

The three best scorers in the Junior GBO, which is open to golfers ages 13-17, will earn spots in the GBO, which is scheduled for July 20-22 at Bangor Muni.

The entry fee for the Junior GBO is $20, and starting times begin at 9 a.m.

Interested golfers should call Bangor Muni at 941-0232 or e-mail assistant pro Rob Jarvis (robjarvis@pga.com).

GBO update

Two-time defending champion Matt Donovan of Pittsfield, Mass., is among the early entries for this year’s GBO.

Approximately 40 entries have come in so far, according to Bangor Muni head pro Brian Enman.

Others on the list, in addition to Poulin, are 2001 winner Jim Salinetti of Lee, Mass., Bob Darling Jr. of Lewiston, and Jim Becker of Bloomfield, Conn.

Dave Barber can be reached at 990-8170, 1-800-310-8600, or by e-mail at dbarber@bangordailynews.net.