John Harris, the former Gophers hockey player who later dominated Minnesota amateur golf, died Wednesday at the age of 73. According to the Minnesota Golf Association, the cause was a recurrence of Acute Myeloid Leukemia.
Harris, who grew up in Roseau, was the MGA player of the year 10 times, and nine times in succession from 1987-95. He won four Minnesota State Amateur titles and joined the PGA Champions Tour in 2002 and won a tournament, the Commerce Bank Championship in 2006.
He won the 1993 U.S. Amateur tournament and was a member of the U.S. Walker Cup team four times.
He became director of golf at his alma mater in 2010 but resigned a year later when the women’s head coach, Kathryn Brenny, claimed he was letting his son-in-law run the women’s program instead and creating a hostile work environment. In March 2014, a Hennepin County judge awarded Brenny $359,000 in a related discrimination lawsuit.
Harris turned pro twice, the first time after qualifying in Q School in 1975. He played in the U.S. Open three times, and in 1994 finished tied for 50th at the Masters in Augusta, Ga.
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