Harold Henning, 69; Golfer Won 50-Plus Tournaments in 5 Decades

Harold Henning, who won more than 50 golf tournaments during a career of nearly five decades, died Thursday. He was 69.

Henning, a Miami Beach resident, died after a long illness, the PGA Tour said. The statement did not say where he died.

Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, Henning came to the United States to compete in 1954 and played his way onto the PGA Tour in 1966.

He won the Texas Open that year and, in 1970, he captured the Tallahassee Open.

He teamed with Gary Player to win the 1965 World Cup for South Africa and recorded victories in Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Italy, Denmark and Switzerland.

In 1984 the golfer joined the PGA’s Champions Tour, achieving three victories in his 18 years on the circuit for golfers 50 and older. Henning also had two international victories in the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf.

He last played on the Champions Tour in May 2002, the year he had surgery on both knees. He shot his age of 67 during the ACE Group Classic that season.

“Harold was instrumental to the development and popularity of the Champions Tour in the early days of its growth,” PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem said.

“His affability and warm personality generated tremendous goodwill for the tour,” Finchem added.

Henning is survived by his wife, Patricia; three children; one sister; and three brothers, including Brian Henning, former vice president of competitions for the Champions Tour.