Born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1957, Hanzel quickly established himself in the world of competitive golf, winning more than 30 junior tournaments across Ohio, including the prestigious 1974 Ohio State High School Championship. At Kent State University, his success continued as a four-year letterman and team captain in 1978-79. Hanzel led his team to victory in the 1977 Mid-American Conference Championship and earned All-Conference honors twice, in 1978 and 1979
Hanzel would move to Georgia after graduating medical school, later winning the 2004 Georgia Mid-Amateur Championship and the 2006 Georgia Four-Ball Championship. Once Hanzel turned 50 and became eligible to compete as a senior, the wins started piling up. He has won the Georgia Senior Championship four times, the Georgia Senior Four-Ball Championship eight times, the Georgia Senior Match Play two times.
He's made a name for himself on the national circuit, winning the Jones Cup Senior Invitational four times and the National Senior Amateur Hall of Fame tournament three times. Hanzel has qualified for over 30 USGA Championships. In 2012, he became the only player ever to advance to match play at the U.S. Amateur Championship, U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship, U.S. Senior Amateur Championship and earn low amateur honors at the U.S. Senior Open in the same year.
Hanzel has been the Georgia Men's Player of the Year two times and the Senior Player of the Year six times. He was inducted into the Georgia Golf Hall of Fame in 2019.
