Poland Spring golf professional Mark Malloy is not a celebrity, but he could become one.

Bill Kennedy, Golf Columnist Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Malloy is in his first year as a golf guest for WJJB Radio, which has a PM Jab golf segment on Wednesday afternoons. His wealth of knowledge about New England golf and the PGA Tour makes him a great asset to the show hosts, Javier Gorriti and Eli Canfield.

Malloy, 59, is a veteran PGA professional, having previously been head pro at Sunday River and Bethel Inn Resort prior to becoming part of the staff at Poland Spring seven years ago. He and head pro John King are longtime friends. He got to know King when he was the pro at Riverside, and the two had worked together at Bethel from 1991-94, where they started the Guaranteed Performance School of Golf, an instruction program.

“We have known each other for more than 30 years,” King said. “When I got the job at Poland Spring, I didn’t think twice about hiring Mark. There’s nobody I’d rather work with.”

If you are wondering how he got onto the PM Jab, it is because Malloy played high school hockey, and hockey is the first love of Gorriti, who was in goal for the University of Maine during a portion of its glory hockey years. They connected while Malloy was at Bethel, and have been friends ever since.

The golf segment of the PM Jab generally is aired around 4:30 p.m. on Wednesdays. It is live, not taped. And the questions Malloy is asked are not rehearsed.

“I never know what is going to be asked,” Malloy said. Nor does he have much preparation time, because: ”Javier gives me a three minutes heads-up.”

At Poland Spring, Malloy has various duties, running the pro shop, working events and giving lessons. The work days can start early, like the June 4 Fenn-Ross Tournament, which Malloy helped to set up starting at 5:30 a.m.

Malloy apparently does not mind the trek from his home in Bethel, where he resides with his wife of 32 years, Susan. They have two children, Samantha and Jack, and two granddaughters, Maeve and Ruby. None of them are golfers but he remains hopeful that his granddaughters might become interested.

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Maine Golf is running six qualifiers for the Maine Amateur, which will be July 9-11 at Purpoodock in Cape Elizabeth.

On June 4 at Martindale, 14 players qualified, including nine area golfers. Steve Lycette of Martindale carded a 1-under 70, while Ashley Fifield and Richard Paradis, both of Martindale, had 73s. The remainder of the area qualifiers were: Daniel Bouttenet of Poland Spring (74), Kelly Cates of Martindale (75), Mike Brennan of Norway (76), Adam Poulin of Martindale (76), Jonathan Letourneau of Fox Ridge (76) and Chad Allen of Point Sebago (77), who won a playoff for the final spot.

On June 6 at Biddeford-Saco, Len Cole of Martindale shot a 73 to qualify there.

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Point Sebago has scheduled three demo days — June 16 with TaylorMade, June 23 with Callaway and June 29 with Cobra. Interested players should call the course for the times.

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Maine Golf has a women’s playday slated for June 17 at Belgrade Lakes and for men June 21 at Bridgton Highlands.

Bill Kennedy, a retired New Jersey golf writer and editor now residing on Thompson Lake in Otisfield, is in his 12th season as Sun Journal golf columnist.