Harris wins Champions Tour title

East Meadow: John Harris made a six-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole to beat Tom Jenkins in the Commerce Bank Championship on Sunday. He thus won his first Champions Tour title. Harris, who had an outstanding amateur career, had eight top-10 finishes in his four-plus year on the tour for players 50 and over. He matched the tournament's best round with a 64 on Sunday despite bogeying the 18th hole in regulation. He came up with a birdie on that same par-four in the playoff, taking home the winner's share of $225,000 from the purse of $1.5 million. He entered the tournament in 27th place on the money list with $261,993. Good drive Jenkins, who had a one-stroke lead after completing the rain-delayed second round on Sunday morning, parred the 18th with a tap-in to cap a 69 and tie Harris at 11-under 202 after three rounds. He hit his drive well right on the playoff hole, left his second shot short and then got up and down for a par. But Harris, who played for coach Herb Brooks on the 1974 NCAA championship hockey team at Minnesota, hit a six-iron from the fairway and made the birdie putt. It was the fourth playoff in the tournament's 19 years, the last win 2002 when Hubert Green beat Hale Irwin. Jay Haas, who was trying to tie the Champions Tour record with his fourth straight victory, Andy Bean and Gil Morgan all finished one stroke out of the playoff. (AP)