Phil Hancock

Phillip Ranson Hancock (born October 30, 1953) is an American professional golfer who formerly played on the PGA Tour.

Early life

Hancock learned to play golf growing up in Greenville, Alabama from his father, a local dentist. Hancock and his friends would often play 45 or 54 holes in the summer time. He won his first tournament at the 1969 Alabama State Junior Championship at age 16.

College career

After high school, Hancock accepted an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, where he played for coach Buster Bishop's Florida Gators men's golf team in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) competition from 1973 to 1976. During his freshman year, the Gators golf team, which included future PGA Tour members Andy Bean, Gary Koch and Woody Blackburn, won the 1973 NCAA Championship. As a Gator golfer, Hancock received All-SEC honors for four consecutive years (second-team in 1973 and 1974; first-team in 1975 and 1976), and was an All-American in 1974, 1975 and 1976. He won the SEC individual championship in 1975 and 1976, and was the winner of the Haskins Award in 1976. He graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor's degree in public relations in 1976, and was inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as a "Gator Great" in 1992.