Sure, Corey Poulin is a good golfer. He won the 2005 Maine Amateur, for crying out loud. He is an excellent golfer.

But who is the best Maine golfer of all time?

Mark Plummer’s name is probably at the back of everybody’s mind right now, and several of you, no doubt, are thinking it’s a no-brainer. He’s won 13 Maine Amateur titles, his first in 1973 and his most recent in 2002, and finished second five times.

Right now, Shawn Warren is tearing things up, despite a poor showing in match play at this year’s Maine Amateur. Warren is the defending champion at the Charlie’s Maine Open, and he tied for third Thursday at the New England Amateur, by far the best showing of any Maine golfer. He may be the best in years to come.

But of all time?

How about Dick Diversi, who won a record five consecutive amateurs from 1953 to 1957. He was certainly a force then, and finished his career with six titles and three second-place finishes.

Dr. Ray Lebel deserves recognition here, too. Lebel, from 1940 to 1974, a span of 34 years, finished first five times and second another five times. Ralph Noel also won three times, and countless others have made serious runs. Sean Gorgone, for example, won four out of five in the late 1980s. He, too, would have claimed five straight had it not been for Plummer squeezing out one of his 13 in the middle, in 1989 at Martindale.

Both Lebel and Plummer are listed as “honorable mentions” in the recently printed edition of Golf Digest, which should surprise no one. The winner? David Peoples.

Peoples, an Augusta native, is a two-time winner on the PGA Tour, and has made $118,722 on both the PGA and Nationwide Tours this year. His wins came in 1991 at the Buick Southern Open and in 1992 at the Anheuser-Busch Golf Classic.

On the women’s side, Auburn’s Martha Page White claimed the title, which no doubt should be at least shared with her sister, Pennie Page Cummings.

The sisters have combined for 18 Maine Women’s titles.

Lists, however, are subjective. Some may argue that, given the chance, Plummer could have played to at least the level David Peoples has. But he hasn’t. For once, I am inclined to agree with a national publication on this one. Peoples, regardless of whether we consider him a “true Mainer,” is the most accomplished Maine-born golfer to date. Congratulations to him, to Martha White and to Dr. Lebel and Mark Plummer for making the list. This new generation of golfers has a lot to look up to.

Justin Pelletier is a staff writer. He can be reached at [email protected]