PGA Professional Mike Zinni Passes Away at 65

Minnesota

PGA professional and longtime head golf professional at the Mankato Golf Club, Mike Zinni, passed away last Tuesday at the age of 65.

Zinni became a member of the PGA in 1976 and served on the Board of Directors for the Minnesota Section for almost 20 years, serving as president in 1995-96.

He served on the PGA of America’s board of Directors from 1997-99 and from 2005-07, while serving on the Instruction, Special Awards, Tournament and Properties committees.

Zinni grew up in Wichita Falls, Texas where his appreciation for the game of golf was formed at his local country club. He earned a golf scholarship to the University of Houston before transferring to Midwestern State University in his hometown, where he earned Division II All-American honors his final season.

In 1987 Zinni became head professional at the Mankato Golf Club where he would serve for the next 27 years. During that time Zinni accumulated numerous awards and championships, playing locally and nationally.

He won the Bill Strausbaugh Award in 2000 and 2007 for the Minnesota Section and the Merchandiser of the Year in 1990. Zinni became head coach of the Minnesota State University, Mankato golf team in 2003 before stepping down in 2009.

Zinni won the Minnesota Section Senior PGA Championship twice (2003, 2006), the Minnesota Senior Open three times (2006-08), and the 1985 Tapemark Pro-Am.

A five-time Minnesota Section Senior Player of the Year, Zinni competed in 14 PGA National Professional Championships, ten PGA Senior Championships and five USGA Senior Open Championships.

Most recently, Zinni took third at the Minnesota Senior Open Championship on June 3-4 at Hastings Country Club and took 31st at his final tournament, the Le Seuer Pro-Am at Le Sueur Country Club.

Zinni passed away Tuesday evening in Rochester, Minn., fighting a lung infection for the past month.