Harris was born in 1908 in Dardenelle, Arkansas.
Koch lost by just three strokes to Texas' Ben Crenshaw, who won his third-straight individual title.
Oklahoma State University Led by runner-up Gary Koch, the Gators captured the 76th Annual NCAA Championships with little difficulty, defeating host Oklahoma State by 10 strokes. Crenshaw is the greatest NCAA golfer of all time. $500. Match play 2009-present The event was held at … This is the fourth NCAA Golf Championships hosted by OSU. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy.
The 1973 Golf Champions were honored by this endowment through the proceeds of the University of Florida Golf Classic.
And Cowboy golf set the stage for Holder’s ultra-successful era. June 10-15, 1973 The event was held at Stillwater Country Club, a lovely course on the west side of town that seems quaint compared to the expansiveness and opulence of Karsten Creek. This is the fourth NCAA Golf Championships hosted by OSU. Harris also developed into one of the state’s best tennis players. His Cowboys finished second to Florida, 10 strokes back. Koch opened up with a three-under par 67 to lead through the first round.
He then sold eggs and milk and taught at a small school. But he took up golf and shot a 63 on nine holes his first round. Harris is one of the giants of OSU athletic history. You probably know all about the recent such events – 2003 (Clemson beat OSU by two strokes for the title) and 2011 (Augusta State beat Georgia in the finals, after dispatching the Cowboys) and now this one, all at Karsten Creek. Give Now Please select an amount to give. $1,000. Team members were Andy Bean, Woody Blackburn, Ben Duncan, Phil Hancock, Gary Koch, Kevin Morris and Fred Rile . But perhaps the most memorable NCAA Tournament in Stillwater came in 1973. Harris had coached the Cowboys to one NCAA title and would turn the program over to Mike Holder after that 1973 tournament.
Veteran Oklahoma State University golf coach Labron Harris Sr. is pictured while making a strong run for his second Oklahoma Open golf championship during the 47th annual competition held in Enid in September of 1961.
Also in the tournament were the likes of future PGA Tour stalwarts Craig Stadler, Andy Bean, Bill Kratzert, Bill Rogers, Tom Purtzer and Bruce Lietzke. But Harris convinced the city commission to donate land, 175 people donated $3 each for supplies and 54 men donated their time to clear the land for a golf course. Log in or subscribe to read and leave comments. The NCAA Golf Championships finish Wednesday in Stillwater, with OSU favored to beat Alabama and secure the Cowboys’ 11th NCAA golf title. $100.
June 10-15, 1973 Stillwater Country Club Oklahoma State University Stillwater, Okla. He bested Florida’s Gary Koch by three shots, with winds from 25-40 mph on the final day. He was hooked. It seems quite funny to think of an NCAA Championship at a place like Stillwater Country Club, which is a lovely course but could be lit up by some of the world’s best amateur golfers, compared to Karsten. He grew up on a farm near Wewoka and went to Southwestern State on a track/tennis/wrestling scholarship. Staff photo by Mandell matheson taken 9/26/1961; photo ran in the 9/28/1961... Berry Tramel, a lifelong Oklahoman, sports fan and newspaper reader, joined The Oklahoman in 1991 and has served as beat writer, assistant sports editor, sports editor and columnist. You probably know all about the recent such events – 2003 (Clemson beat OSU by two strokes for the title) and 2011 (Augusta State beat Georgia in the finals, after dispatching the Cowboys) and now this one, all at Karsten Creek. Holder, of course, went on to coach OSU to eight NCAA titles and became the Cowboys’ program-changing athletic director.
So Crenshaw went out a winner. Video Platform powered by CBS Sports Digital.
That was an historic year. Historic 1973 NCAA golf was played at Stillwater Country Club. It was a memorable week in Stillwater, when the Cowboys said good-bye to Harris, who laid the groundwork for all the success that was to come. Stillwater Country Club *Won Playoff.
Note: No tournament held in 1900, 1917 and 1918. The NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championship, played in late May or early June, is the top annual competition in U.S. men's collegiate golf. All Rights Reserved. Read more ›. He was going for a third straight NCAA individual title. Berry Tramel, a lifelong Oklahoman, sports fan and newspaper reader, joined The Oklahoman in 1991 and has served as beat writer, assistant sports editor, sports editor and columnist. The Gators placed their top four golfers in the first 11 spots. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here.
Commenting on NewsOK requires a NewsOK Pro or Oklahoman subscription. Only trouble was, there was no course in town. But the world’s greatest amateur in 1973, Crenshaw, won the NCAA title with a two-over par total.
Harris was denied such glory. $250. It was a loaded field. Crenshaw got his title.
Koch lost by just three strokes to Texas' Ben Crenshaw, who won his third-straight individual title. Give To This Fund: 1973 NCAA Golf Championship Team . But he soon took on golf as a project and eventually was hired as OSU’s first golf coach.
Harris designed what became Lakeside Golf Course, and it opened in May 1945. Stillwater, Okla. 1973 also was Ben Crenshaw’s final season at Texas. Harris arrived in Stillwater in 1940 at age 32 to teach commercial subjects. Labron Harris’ final season as OSU’s golf coach after 27 years. Led by runner-up Gary Koch, the Gators captured the 76th Annual NCAA Championships with little difficulty, defeating host Oklahoma State by 10 strokes.
But perhaps the most memorable NCAA Tournament in Stillwater came in 1973.