AUBURN – With a summer schedule that includes having played in the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship and upcoming appearances in the U.S. Amateur and U.S. Mid-Amateur events, one might wonder when he gets any work done.

As do many businesspeople, the comptroller of Dragon Cement in Thomaston just needs to stay in touch using phones and laptop computers.

“A lot of my job [involves] deadlines,” said Ricky Jones before Wednesday’s opening round of the Charlie’s Maine Open at Fox Ridge Golf Club, “so as long as I meet them, it’s OK.”

As happened when he played in the Whited Ford Paul Bunyan Amateur and the Maine Amateur earlier this year, he often puts in a half day of work either before or after his round, depending on his tee time. Wednesday, he worked before his round; Thursday, it was after.

“Most of my work deals with the corporate office,” said Jones, “so it doesn’t matter if I’m in the office or on the road, I still have to use a phone.”

This year looks busier for Jones because of the three national championships he’s playing in, but he has also had to miss a couple of others that he would normally play, such as the Barrett East Coast Amateur in St. Andrews, New Brunswick, and the New England Amateur. And he only qualified for the Publinx because it wasn’t being held the same week as the Maine Amateur this year. Jones really wanted to get to the Mid-Am this time because it’s in a Milwaukee suburb.

“When I worked for Fisher Plow, the corporate office was in Milwaukee. I’ve got lots of friends there and I wanted to see them,” said Jones.

This year’s U.S. Amateur is at Pinehurst Resort in Pinehurst, N.C., a historic Donald Ross complex which attracts many golfers. Jones will be leaving for Pinehurst later today after the final Maine Open round. And next year’s Mid-Am is at Kiawah Island in Charleston, S.C.

“That’s where the corporate office [for Dragon] is,” said Jones. “I’ll be 20 minutes away [if he qualifies].”

If it still looks like he’s having an easy month, Jones pointed out, “We’re owned by a company in Spain, and they’re all on vacation this month.”

Petrocelli to play

Rico Petrocelli, a member of the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame, will be playing in the fifth annual Lunder Scholars Golf Invitational at Belgrade Lakes Golf Course on Sept. 12.

Petrocelli, the starting shortstop on the 1967 “Impossible Dream” team, is currently a company spokesperson for TD Banknorth and playing in charity tournaments as a representative of the bank. Foursomes playing in the tournament will have their picture taken with Petrocelli.

Proceeds from the tourney benefit the Lunder Scholars Endowment, which gives financial assistance to Maine students attending Thomas College in Waterville.

For more info or to register a foursome, contact Cathy Dumont at 859-1167 or dumontc@thomas.edu or Donna-Jo Mitchell at 859-1247 or mitchelld@thomas.edu.

dbarber@bangordailynews.net

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