Dr. Leonardo Buck of Bath was honored last week by the Maine State Golf Association for his long service to golf in the state and other organizations, including the United States Golf Association.

At last week’s MSGA Scholarship and Junior banquet, Buck received an engraved captain’s chair with the MSGA logo and the words “In appreciation of your years of service to the Maine State Golf Association”.

All told, Buck, 96, can count 75 years of service to the MSGA. He began as a volunteer at the Maine Open in the early 1930s. For over 25 years, he was the head rules official at all MSGA tournaments. Buck was still doing the rules up until this season.

Buck was one of the founding members of the MSGA Scholarship Fund, which awards scholarships to high school seniors who are going on to college. This year, the scholarships are worth $1,500 each.

Buck’s influence over the years has extended well beyond his home state. He served a total of 45 consecutive years on two USGA committees — the U.S. Publinks Committee and the U.S. Senior Amateur Committee. He also served 30 years on the board of directors of the New England Golf Association.

Buck has been a rules official for the Maine Chapter of the New England PGA, the New England Golf Association, the LPGA Futures Tour and the PGA Tour. He is a friend of Arnold Palmer and worked Palmer’s tournament, the Bay Hill Classic, for years.

He has conducted numerous rules seminars for MSGA staff and has set up courses with the proper markings from York to Presque Isle.

Buck is one of 13 nominees for the prestigious Joe Dey Award, given annually by the USGA in recognition of meritorious service as a volunteer. It is named in honor of Joseph Dey Jr., who was the USGA’s executive director for 35 years and also served as the first PGA Tour commissioner. The winner will be announced later this year.

Buck was a five-sport letter winner at Morse High. He graduated from Bowdoin College, where he played baseball, golf and hockey. He graduated from Harvard Dental School before embarking on his long career as a dentist in Bath.

Buck won the 1950 Maine Amateur. He won 12 club championships at Bath Country Club. Buck played in 49 Tri-State Championships (Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont).

Buck is a member of three Hall of Fames in the state — the Maine Golf Hall of Fame, the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame and the Maine Sports Hall of Fame.

Starting this year, the MSGA will name its Player of the Year Award the Dr. Leonardo Buck Maine Player of the Year Award. 

TEE TO GREEN: Maine Junior Champion Austen Truslow lives in Florida but has been summering in Islesboro every year of his young life. His family has roots on the island that date to the 1890s. Truslow, 16, blew away the field at Val Halla in the 15-17 division for his second straight title. A year ago, he shot 71-70 to win. This past week, he went 68-67 to win by 13 shots.

Truslow will be eligible to play next year if he chooses. But if he does, he will have to play in three regular junior tournaments prior to the junior championship. That’s a new stipulation by the MSGA, which henceforth could be dubbed “The Truslow Rule.”

Mike Doran shot 69-69 to win the Sable Oaks club championship. Doran had a hole-in-one in his second round on the 192-yard 11th. It was Doran’s first club championship and third hole-in-one. Doran is the MSGA’s junior and senior tournament director.

The Bath Golf Club, recently purchased by Harris Golf, will have a fireworks display on Aug. 17. Central Maine Pyrotechnics will put on the show. which is open to the public at no charge. Bath members and golfers from the community will play a nine-hole scramble at 5 p.m. There will also be a barbecue. The charge is $12 for adults and $8 for children.

The Maine Basketball Hall of Fame held at scramble at Aroostook Valley in Fort Fairfield last Friday.

Staff Writer Tom Chard can be reached at 791-6419 or at:

tchard@pressherald.com

Twitter: TomChardPPH

 

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