HARTFORD, Conn. -- J.J. Henry, who qualified for his first Ryder Cup team this year after winning his first PGA TOUR title at the Buick Championship in Cromwell, will be honored by the Connecticut State Golf Association next month.

Henry, who was born in Fairfield and now lives in Fort Worth, Texas, will receive a special recognition award during the CSGA's annual meeting Dec. 12 at Grassy Hill Country Club in Orange. Henry will be honored with the newest members of the Connecticut Golf Hall of Fame, who have yet to be announced.

Henry, 31, had his best of six years on the PGA TOUR this year with four top-10 finishes and earnings of more than $2.3 million, which was 29th on the money list. He also played in the British Open and THE TOUR Championship Presented by Coca-Cola for the first time and will team with Stewart Cink to represent the United States in the World Golf Championships-Barbados World Cup on Dec. 7-10.

Henry's three-stroke victory at the Buick Championship qualified him for the Mercedes-Benz Championship for TOUR winners in Hawaii in January. Finishing in the top 40 on the money list earned Henry his first berth in the Masters in April.

Henry, who learned to play golf from his father, Ron, is also being recognized for an amateur career that included victories in the 1994, '95 and '98 CSGA Amateur Championship and '98 New England Amateur.

He was a two-time CSGA player of the year and an All-American at TCU, finishing second in the NCAA championship and representing the U.S. in the Palmer Cup in 1998 before turning pro. After two years on the Nationwide Tour, he has retained his PGA TOUR card for six years.

©The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.