Minnesota wins USGA title

CHASKA (AP)-- Steady play from a young team helped Minnesota capture its second Men's State USGA championship Tuesday at Hazeltine National Golf Club.

Amateur veteran John Harris, of Minneapolis, led Minnesota -- which also won in 1997 -- with a three-round total of 215 to help stave off Virginia and Wisconsin for the title.

"It was very special," Harris said of winning in his home state. "I don't get the opportunity to play here very often because of my national schedule, but this was great."

John Carlson, of Bagley, ended with 220 and Jered Gusso, of Savage, finished at 221, to give Minnesota a team score of 432 for the tournament, two strokes ahead of second-place Virginia (432) and three strokes ahead of Wisconsin (435).

Harris parred 18 to clinch the win for Minnesota, but it was a shot on 16 that was the biggest of the day. After teeing off with a 3-iron, Harris hit a 7-iron to within two feet of the pin, later tapping it in for a birdie. Virginia's Keith Decker bogeyed to give Minnesota some breathing room.

For Carlson, a fifth-year senior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Tuesday's victory helped ease the pain of a heavy class load on Wednesday.

"It's hard to describe, to win it with Harris and Gusso, you couldn't ask for anything better," Carlson said. "I have two tests and two quizzes tomorrow, but not even that can dampen what we did today."