John Harris,Dual-Sport Star and Minnesota Golf Legend,Dies
Minneapolis,MN - John Harris,a remarkable athlete who excelled in both hockey and golf and later became a dominant force in Minnesota amateur golf,has died. He was a standout on the University of Minnesota’s 1974 NCAA championship hockey team and a decorated amateur golfer who would later compete on the PGA and PGA Champions tours. He was[ageattimeofdeath-[ageattimeofdeath-[ageattimeofdeath-[ageattimeofdeath-this information is missing from the provided text and would need to be added].
Born in Minneapolis and raised in Roseau,Minnesota,Harris demonstrated athletic prowess from a young age. A center for two Roseau High School hockey teams that reached the state tournament, he continued his hockey career at the University of Minnesota, earning four letters.He was a key contributor to the Gophers’ historic 1973-74 team, scoring as the second-leading point scorer on the squad that secured the program’s first-ever NCAA hockey championship. Harris recorded 56 points (21 goals and 35 assists) in 110 career games for the Gophers, playing alongside his brother Robbie, under the guidance of legendary coach Herb Brooks.
Harris’s athletic talents weren’t limited to the ice.Just two months after the Gophers’ hockey triumph, he claimed the individual championship at the Big Ten men’s golf meet in Iowa City.He further cemented his amateur golf standing by winning the Minnesota State Amateur title in July 1974.
After a single season of minor league hockey, Harris turned professional in golf in 1975. He competed on the PGA Tour, achieving his best finish – 26th place – at the Hawaiian Open in february 1976, after missing the cut in his first three events.
In 1983, Harris made the decision to regain his amateur status, launching a decade of dominance in Minnesota men’s amateur golf.He secured three Minnesota State Amateur titles, five Minnesota State Mid-Amateur titles, and impressively won the Minnesota State Open in both 1994 and 1995 – all while maintaining his amateur standing.
Harris’s versatility and dedication to both sports established him as a true Minnesota sports icon. He leaves behind a legacy of athletic achievement and a lasting impact on the state’s golfing community.
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