STERLING — Henry St. Cyr, a talented golfer from Oak Hill Country Club, a veteran rules official and a member of the Leominster High Athletic Hall of Fame, was named the recipient of the 2017 Andrew J. Blau Volunteer of the Year Award by the Massachusetts Golf Association.
Mr. St. Cyr will be recognized for his accomplishments and receive his award alongside the top competitors from the Mass. Golf Association, Women’s Golf Association of Massachusetts, New England Golf Association and United States Golf Association Championships at the 23rd Salute to Champions Dinner on Jan. 17 at Wellesley Country Club.
Involved in several capacities over the past decade, Mr. St. Cyr, who lives in Sterling, officiated nearly a dozen events during the 2017 season, including being the official-in-charge for the 21st annual Mass. Senior Amateur Four-Ball as well as local qualifiers for the Mass. Amateur Public Links Championship and the Mass. Junior Amateur Championship.
A 1962 Leominster High graduate, the 6-foot-3 Mr. St. Cyr excelled in basketball, track and field and baseball for the Blue Devils. He also played basketball and golf at Nichols College.
Beginning in his teens as a junior member and caddie at Oak Hill, Mr. St. Cyr developed into one of the top players at the Fitchburg club. Now 73, he is the reigning senior net and Super Senior club champion. His career low round at Oak Hill is 1 under par.
“My father joined Oak Hill in the late 1950s, and I was able to join as a junior member back then,” said Mr. St. Cyr, whose father, Henry, was the captain and later acting chief of police in Leominster.
A former investment and finance executive in the insurance industry, Mr. St. Cyr is one of only a few to serve as official-in-charge for six MGA championships proper, including most notably the 2015 Massachusetts Amateur Championship that was played at his home club.
Mr. St. Cyr also has served on the Mass Golf Championship Committee for the past three years and been a member of the Massachusetts Golf Association's nominating committee.
“It is an honor to receive this award and to be included with the names of those who have won this before me,” Mr. St. Cyr said. “Carolyn O’Donnell won it last year, and I just admired the amount of work that she put in as a volunteer. I’m just honored because of all the volunteers who participate annually and give their time for Mass Golf. To even be considered has just been a wonderful surprise that I had not expected."
First getting his start with the Massachusetts Golf Association in the 2007 season on the advice of his good friend and past MGA president Thomas Bagley, Mr. St. Cyr quickly became a familiar face across the organization.
“We are very excited to recognize Henry St. Cyr with the 2017 Andrew J. Blau Award,” Mass. Golf Executive Director Jesse Menachem said. “Henry, like all of our MGA volunteers, has been a tremendous asset in ensuring the success of the Massachusetts Golf Association’s 12 championships proper and their respective qualifiers over the course of his career as a volunteer."
"Mr. St. Cyr is most deserving of the MGA’s volunteer award," said Bucky Buchanan, head professional at Oak Hill. "A true gentleman giving of his time for all events, men’s, ladies and juniors, all in the spirit of giving back to the game of golf.
"The amazing part about Mr. St. Cyr is that even with all of his volunteering with the MGA, Oak Hill board of directors and various other committees, is that he still carries a single digit handicap."
St. Cyr has been an active competitor in Mass Golf events such as the Massachusetts Senior Four-Ball, the Massachusetts Senior Amateur Championship and the Massachusetts Super Senior Amateur Championship and events at Oak Hill.
The award was established to honor Andy Blau, an MGA volunteer for nearly 30 years who passed away in 2010. Mr. Blau served as a volunteer for nearly every department of the organization, including championships, course rating, handicapping, junior golf and communications.