Jeff Mitchell (golfer)
Encyclopedia
Jeff Mitchell is an American
professional golfer
who played on the PGA Tour
in the 1970s and 1980s. He has also been a head coach in various college men's and women's golf
programs.
Mitchell was born in Rockford, Illinois
. He attended Texas Tech University
in Lubbock, Texas
and was a member of the golf team. While a student at Texas Tech, he won the 1975 and 1976 West Texas Championships. Mitchell turned pro and joined the PGA Tour in 1976.
Mitchell was a full-time member of the PGA Tour from 1977–1984. His career year was 1980 when he won the Phoenix Open by four strokes over Rik Massengale
, earned $111,217, and finished 37th on the money list. That year he was also first round co-leader at The Masters; he ended the tournament at T38, which was his best finish in a major championship
. Mitchell had a dozen top-10 finishes in PGA Tour events during his career.
After retiring as a touring professional in the mid-1980s, Mitchell took various club pro jobs in Texas and Florida before returning to Texas Tech to complete his degree and earn his teaching certificate. Mitchell was men's head golf coach at Stanford University
for four years prior to resigning in June 2004. Before that, he was head of women's golf at Texas Tech for 10 years; his last three years at Texas Tech he headed both the men's and women's programs. He was inducted into the Texas Tech University Hall of Fame in 2000.
Recently, Mitchell has been a contestant in The Big Break VI: Trump National
, the sixth edition of The Golf Channel's reality show, The Big Break.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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 1970s and 1980s. He has also been a head coach in various college men's and women's golf
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....
programs.
Mitchell was born in Rockford, Illinois
Rockford, Illinois
Rockford is a mid-sized city located on both banks of the Rock River in far northern Illinois. Often referred to as "The Forest City", Rockford is the county seat of Winnebago County, Illinois, USA. As reported in the 2010 U.S. census, the city was home to 152,871 people, the third most populated...
. He attended Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University, often referred to as Texas Tech or TTU, is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and originally known as Texas Technological College, it is the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System and has the...
in Lubbock, Texas
Lubbock, Texas
Lubbock is a city in and the county seat of Lubbock County, Texas, United States. The city is located in the northwestern part of the state, a region known historically as the Llano Estacado, and the home of Texas Tech University and Lubbock Christian University...
and was a member of the golf team. While a student at Texas Tech, he won the 1975 and 1976 West Texas Championships. Mitchell turned pro and joined the PGA Tour in 1976.
Mitchell was a full-time member of the PGA Tour from 1977–1984. His career year was 1980 when he won the Phoenix Open by four strokes over Rik Massengale
Rik Massengale
Rik Massengale is a former American professional golfer who played full-time on the PGA Tour from 1970–1982.Massengale was born and raised in Jacksboro, Texas. He developed an interest in golf as a result of his older brother, Don, being a professional golfer. He attended the University of...
, earned $111,217, and finished 37th on the money list. That year he was also first round co-leader at The Masters; he ended the tournament at T38, which was his best finish in a major championship
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...
. Mitchell had a dozen top-10 finishes in PGA Tour events during his career.
After retiring as a touring professional in the mid-1980s, Mitchell took various club pro jobs in Texas and Florida before returning to Texas Tech to complete his degree and earn his teaching certificate. Mitchell was men's head golf coach at Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
for four years prior to resigning in June 2004. Before that, he was head of women's golf at Texas Tech for 10 years; his last three years at Texas Tech he headed both the men's and women's programs. He was inducted into the Texas Tech University Hall of Fame in 2000.
Recently, Mitchell has been a contestant in The Big Break VI: Trump National
The Big Break VI: Trump National
The Big Break VI: Trump National was the sixth edition of The Golf Channel's popular reality television series, The Big Break. The show awards exemptions into selected events on major professional golf tours....
, the sixth edition of The Golf Channel's reality show, The Big Break.
PGA Tour wins
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory | Runner(s)-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jan 20, 1980 1980 PGA Tour The 1980 PGA Tour season was played from January 10 to October 19. The season consisted of 44 official money events. Tom Watson won the most tournaments, seven, and there were 11 first-time winners. The tournament results, leaders, and award winners are listed below.-Tournament results:The... |
Phoenix Open | 4 strokes |  Rik MassengaleRik Massengale Rik Massengale is a former American professional golfer who played full-time on the PGA Tour from 1970–1982.Massengale was born and raised in Jacksboro, Texas. He developed an interest in golf as a result of his older brother, Don, being a professional golfer. He attended the University of... |