SACO – Winning the Maine Amateur Golf Championship on Thursday was just one step on a stairway that Sean Gorgone of Topsham sees leading him to the PGA Tour.

Gorgone will prepare himself for PGA Tour qualifying school by competing in a few more amateur events, matching himself against some of the best amateurs in the world.

First, he will compete in the New England Amateur next week in New Hampshire.

After that will be the Western Amateur, the Maine Open, and the Porter Cup, if everything goes as planned.

He’s hoping good performances at the New England Amateur and the Porter Cup will earn him a berth on the Walker Cup team, which pits the best of the American amateur golfers against the best of Great Britain.

“I’ll probably have to win the New England Amateur to have a shot at the Walker Cup,” said Gorgone Wednesday.

A lackluster performance there, though, may prompt him to turn pro earlier, maybe for the Maine Open.

Even though he has enjoyed playing, and winning, in Maine, he’s looking forward to the next part of his golf career.

“I like playing the hard courses, and you get more of that in the pros,” said Gorgone.

“I’ll try for the PGA Tour, and I hope to get at least far enough for the (Ben) Hogan (Tour),” said Gorgone. A distant third choice is the European PGA Tour.

After his performance at the Biddeford-Saco Country Club the last three days, more than few people expressed the point they think he is ready to take that next step up.

Jim Hadlock of Kezar Falls could name only three golfers he has seen in the last 30 years with the natural talent to make that step.

“I’m talking about Jim Veno, (Mark) Plummer, and Gorgone,” said Hadlock.

When he does make the move, he doesn’t think there will be a big adjustment.

“It’s like going from eighth grade to ninth grade and from 12th grade to college. It’s that kind of adjustment,” said Gorgone.

“I will miss some of the local faces,” said Gorgone. “Even if I play in the (Maine) Open, I won’t see as many as I would at a tournament like this.”