John Harris, one of the top amateur golfers in Minnesota history and also a PGA and PGA Champions tour player, died Wednesday.
Harris, who was born in Minneapolis and raised in Roseau, Minn., golfed and played hockey for the Gophers.
Harris, a center who had played on two Roseau hockey teams that reached the state tournament, was a four-year letterwinner in hockey for the Gophers. He was the second-leading scorer on the 1973-74 team, which won the NCAA championship — the first in program history. Harris’ brother Robbie was also a member of the team, which was coached by Herb Brooks. In 110 games in his Gophers career, Harris had 56 points (21 goals and 35 assists).
Two months after the Gophers won the NCAA hockey title, Harris won the individual championship at the Big Ten men’s golf meet in Iowa City. In July 1974, Harris won the Minnesota State Amateur title.
Harris played one season of minor league hockey before turning professional in golf in 1975.
After missing the cut in his first three events on the PGA Tour, he finished 26th in the Hawaiian Open in February 1976. That was his best finish in a PGA Tour event.
In 1983, he regained his amateur status and dominated men’s amateur golf in Minnesota over the next decade. He won the Minnesota State Amateur three times and the Minnesota State Mid-Amateur five times. He also won the Minnesota State Open in 1994 and 1995, while still an amateur.
