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John Bruce "Jack" Harris (8 December 1922) was a leading Australian professional golfer of the 1940s to 1960s. He won a record 6 Victorian PGA Championship titles from 1950 to 1963. Jack played essentially on the Australian tournament golf circuit in the 1946 - 1969 period. The Victorian PGA Championship trophy is currently named the “ Jack Harris Cup “ in his honour (from 2005), became Life member of PGA Australia (2001) and an inaugural inductee into the Victorian Golf Hall of Fame (in 2005), alongside Peter_Thomson_(golfer).

Although Jack Harris turned pro in 1940, his tournament playing career did not really start until the middle of 1946 when he was discharged from the Australian Army. He had spent the last part of the Second World War in Labuan Island in Borneo. Jack won his first Victorian PGA in 1950 at age 28 while he was teaching golf at Hartley’s Sports store in the city of Melbourne. In 1950 Jack became club professional at Keysborough GC where he stayed for most of his tournament playing career. Throughout his time at Keysborough he earned his living as a typical club pro (by teaching, running the pro shop etc) and just like many of his contemporaries, practice time to sharpen his game up for tournament play was very limited. Despite this, Jack Harris, throughout the 1950`s and early 1960`s , was still ranked in the top handful of Australian golfers along with the likes of Peter_Thomson_(golfer) ,  Jim Ferrier, Kel Nagle ,  Ossie Pickworth , Norman Von Nida , Eric Cremin , Frank Phillips, Bruce Crampton, Bruce Devlin.

Even without overseas experience, Jack recorded multiple tournaments wins against many golfers who were Australian Open winners including three of whom were also “ major “ winners. Jack also played rounds with many top overseas golfers who visited Australia to play in tournaments such as Jack Nicklaus, Sam Snead, Art_Wall_Jr.  , Arnold Palmer, Gary Player , Bobby Locke, Ed Furgol, Ed Oliver, Max Faulkner, Dai Rees, Harry Weetman, Harold Henning, Peter Alliss, Jimmy_Adams_(golfer), Sewsunker_Sewgolum.

After his tournament playing days were over, Jack also spent 13 years as the club professional at Sorrento GC on the Mornington Peninsula. He will also be remembered for his golf segment on the Channel 7 TV  World of Sport programme in the 1960`s alongside AFL legend Lou Richards, which had been done previously by his first golf teacher, Colin Campbell.

Honours

 * An inaugural inductee into the Victorian Golf Hall of Fame in 2005, alongside Peter_Thomson_(golfer)
 * Life Member of PGA Australia (October 2001).
 * The trophy for Victorian PGA winners was named the “ Jack Harris Cup “  from 2005 onward to recognize his dominance in the event.
 * Varley Trophy winner for best annual scoring average on several occasions.
 * Australian International Squad member.

Tournament wins

 * 1949 Victorian Closed Championship
 * 1950 Victorian PGA Championship
 * 1951 Victorian Closed Championship
 * 1952 Victorian Closed Championship, Adelaide Advertiser
 * 1957 Victorian PGA Championship
 * 1959 Victorian PGA Championship, Victorian Closed championship
 * 1960 Victorian Open,Victorian PGA Championship
 * 1961 Victorian PGA Championship
 * 1963 Victorian PGA Championship

Other Results

 * [[Victorian PGA Championship] Runner Up 6 times  1949 / 1954 / 1955 / 1956 / 1965 / 1969 (at 47yrs)


 * Victorian Closed championship Runner up in 1954 and 3rd in 1948 / 1953

Competed in 15 Australian opens and made the cut 15 times.
 * Australian Open Performances.
 * 1946 13th
 * 1948 14th
 * 1951 4th
 * 1952 4th (tied on 286 with Peter_Thomson_(golfer))
 * 1953 Tied 12th
 * 1954 Tied 9th
 * 1956 Tied 12th
 * 1957 Tied 8th
 * 1958 Tied 14th
 * 1959 Tied 8th
 * 1960 Tied 11th
 * 1961 6th
 * 1962 Tied 16th
 * 1964 28th
 * 1967 Tied 17th


 * Victorian Open 3rd - 1958  and 3rd - 1961.


 * Played several times in successful Victorian team against interstate rivals in Vicars Shield competition, with Ossie_Pickworth and Peter_Thomson_(golfer) as team colleagues.


 * Won the Victorian PGA Foursomes six times. 3 with Colin Campbell  (1946 / 1949 / 1950) and 3 with Bob Spencer (1957 / 1959 / 1960).


 * Won other Australian tournaments including Advertiser, Slazenger, Spalding , Dunlop,  Penfolds , Croydon Open, Woodlands Open , Yarra Yarra Open, Henderson , SW Victorian open and NE Victorian Open.

These tournaments were big prize money tournaments of the day.
 * Many podium finishes in other major Australian tournaments including Ampol, Pelaco, McWilliams Wines , Coles, Liquor Industry, Henderson.