Setting a standard for a club professional in the Sunset Ridge shop and on the course, Bob Harris’ star was bright for two decades after arriving in Illinois in the 1950s. Harris paced San Jose State to the 1948 NCAA Championship by winning the individual crown as a freshman. He came to Illinois as an assistant at Edgewater, and began winning immediately. He dominated a nine-year stretch from 1955 to 1963 by winning two Illinois Opens, two Illinois PGA Championships, and six straight Illinois PGA Match Play titles. A brilliant shotmaker, Harris once held nine Chicago-area course records. He was often in the low 60s on the winter tour. He played in 12 major championships, including the 1955 U.S. Open, tying for 19th playing with Ben Hogan. Closer to home, Harris tied for 11th in the 1963 Western Open. Harris mentored many assistants in 17 years as head professional at Sunset Ridge.
