Tim Norris
Encyclopedia
Tim Norris is a current college head golf
coach and a former professional golfer
who played on the PGA Tour
in the 1980s.
Norris was born and raised in Fresno, California
. He started his collegiate career at Fresno City College
before transferring to Fresno State University. In 1979, he was a second-team All-American, helped lead Fresno State to the Big West Championship, and was the winner of the Sun Bowl Golf Classic. In 1980, he was a first-team All-American, shared Big West Athlete-of-the-Year honors with Jay Don Blake
, helped lead Fresno State to its second Big West Championship in as many years, and was Fresno State's Athlete-of-the-Year.
Norris had 11 top-10 finishes in PGA Tour
events including a win at the 1982 Sammy Davis Jr.-Greater Hartford Open. Norris established the tournament record which still stands at 259 (25-under), and is only one of two players to go wire-to-wire without sharing the lead. He defeated Raymond Floyd
and Hubert Green
by six strokes. His best finish in a major
was T-40 at the 1985 PGA Championship
.
In the 1990s, Norris switch careers from touring professional to college coach. He was men's head golf coach at University of Texas-El Paso from 1990–1997. Since August 1, 1997, he has been the men's head golf coach at Kansas State University
in Manhattan, Kansas
. When he arrived at K-State, he inherited a program that had finished dead last in the Big Eight Conference
for 14 straight years from 1978–1991. Norris has made steady progress transforming the Wildcat's into winners; they appeared in the NCAA Regionals in 2003, 2004 and 2005. During the 2003-2004 season, the Wildcats won the Purina Classic in St. Charles, Missouri, and finished T-4 in the final Big 12 Conference
standings.
Norris is married to the former Shelley Kerr. They have two children, Ashley and Tyler, and live in Manhattan, Kansas
.
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
coach and a former professional golfer
Professional golfer
In golf the distinction between amateurs and professionals is rigorously maintained. An amateur who breaches the rules of amateur status may lose his or her amateur status. A golfer who has lost his or her amateur status may not play in amateur competitions until amateur status has been reinstated;...
who played on the PGA Tour
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
in the 1980s.
Norris was born and raised in Fresno, California
Fresno, California
Fresno is a city in central California, United States, the county seat of Fresno County. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 510,365, making it the fifth largest city in California, the largest inland city in California, and the 34th largest in the nation...
. He started his collegiate career at Fresno City College
Fresno City College
Fresno City College is a community college in Fresno, California. Established in 1910, it was the first community college in California and the second in the nation...
before transferring to Fresno State University. In 1979, he was a second-team All-American, helped lead Fresno State to the Big West Championship, and was the winner of the Sun Bowl Golf Classic. In 1980, he was a first-team All-American, shared Big West Athlete-of-the-Year honors with Jay Don Blake
Jay Don Blake
Jay Don Blake is an American professional golfer who has played on the PGA Tour and the Nationwide Tour; he currently plays on the Champions Tour....
, helped lead Fresno State to its second Big West Championship in as many years, and was Fresno State's Athlete-of-the-Year.
Norris had 11 top-10 finishes in PGA Tour
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
events including a win at the 1982 Sammy Davis Jr.-Greater Hartford Open. Norris established the tournament record which still stands at 259 (25-under), and is only one of two players to go wire-to-wire without sharing the lead. He defeated Raymond Floyd
Raymond Floyd
Raymond Loran "Ray" Floyd is an American professional golfer who has won numerous tournaments on both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour....
and Hubert Green
Hubert Green
Hubert Myatt Green is an American professional golfer who has won numerous professional golf tournaments at both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour level....
by six strokes. His best finish in a major
Men's major golf championships
The men's major golf championships, commonly known as the Major Championships, and often referred to simply as the majors, are the four most prestigious annual tournaments in professional golf...
was T-40 at the 1985 PGA Championship
PGA Championship
The PGA Championship is an annual golf tournament conducted by the PGA of America as part of the PGA Tour. It is one of the four major championships in men's professional golf, and is the golf season's final major, usually played in mid-August, customarily four weeks after The Open Championship...
.
In the 1990s, Norris switch careers from touring professional to college coach. He was men's head golf coach at University of Texas-El Paso from 1990–1997. Since August 1, 1997, he has been the men's head golf coach at Kansas State University
Kansas State University
Kansas State University, commonly shortened to K-State, is an institution of higher learning located in Manhattan, Kansas, in the United States...
in Manhattan, Kansas
Manhattan, Kansas
Manhattan is a city located in the northeastern part of the state of Kansas in the United States, at the junction of the Kansas River and Big Blue River. It is the county seat of Riley County and the city extends into Pottawatomie County. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 52,281...
. When he arrived at K-State, he inherited a program that had finished dead last in the Big Eight Conference
Big Eight Conference
The Big Eight Conference, a former NCAA-affiliated Division I-A college athletic association that sponsored football, was formed in January 1907 as the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association by its charter member schools: the University of Kansas, University of Missouri, University...
for 14 straight years from 1978–1991. Norris has made steady progress transforming the Wildcat's into winners; they appeared in the NCAA Regionals in 2003, 2004 and 2005. During the 2003-2004 season, the Wildcats won the Purina Classic in St. Charles, Missouri, and finished T-4 in the final Big 12 Conference
Big 12 Conference
The Big 12 Conference is a college athletic conference of ten schools located in the Central United States, with its headquarters located in Las Colinas, a community in the Dallas, Texas suburb of Irving...
standings.
Norris is married to the former Shelley Kerr. They have two children, Ashley and Tyler, and live in Manhattan, Kansas
Manhattan, Kansas
Manhattan is a city located in the northeastern part of the state of Kansas in the United States, at the junction of the Kansas River and Big Blue River. It is the county seat of Riley County and the city extends into Pottawatomie County. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 52,281...
.
Other wins
- 1980 California State OpenCalifornia State OpenThe California State Open is the California state open golf tournament, open to both amateur and professional golfers. It is organized by the Southern California section of the PGA of America. It was first played in 1900 and has been played at a variety of courses around the state...
- 1986 Spalding Invitational
- 1992 Sun Country PGA Championship