Beverly Hanson

{{short description|American professional golfer}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2013}}

{{Infobox golfer

| name = Beverly Hanson

| image =

| imagesize =

| caption =

| fullname =

| nickname =

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1924|12|5}}

| birth_place = Fargo, North Dakota, U.S.

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2014|4|12|1924|12|5}}

| death_place = Twin Falls, Idaho, U.S.

| height = {{height|ft=5|in=8.5}}

| weight =

| nationality = {{USA}}

| spouse =

| partner =

| children =

| college = University of North Dakota
Mills College
University of Wisconsin

| yearpro = 1951

| extour = LPGA Tour

| prowins = 19

| lpgawins = 17

| otherwins = 2

| majorwins = 3

| western = Won: 1956

| titleholders = Won: 1958

| nabisco =

| lpga = Won: 1955

| wusopen = 4th: 1952

| dumaurier =

| wghofid =

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| award1 = LPGA Tour
Money Winner

| year1 = 1958

| award2 = LPGA Vare Trophy

| year2 = 1958

| award3 = World Golf Hall of Fame

| year3 = 2023

}}

Beverly Hanson (December 5, 1924 – April 12, 2014) was an American professional golfer who played on the LPGA Tour.

Hanson was born in Fargo, North Dakota, in 1924.{{cite book |last1=Elliott |first1=Len |first2=Barbara |last2=Kelly |title=Who's Who in Golf |year=1976 |publisher=Arlington House |location=New Rochelle, New York |isbn=0-87000-225-2 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/whoswhoingolf00elli/page/81 81–2] |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/whoswhoingolf00elli/page/81 }}[http://www.lpga.com/content/oldplayerbios/HansonBeverlyFinal.pdf LPGA Tour biography] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101229080259/http://www.lpga.com/content/oldplayerbios/HansonBeverlyFinal.pdf |date=December 29, 2010 }} She studied at the University of North Dakota, Mills College in Oakland, California, and the University of Wisconsin and was a bassoon player, performing with civic orchestras. As an amateur golfer, she won the Texas Open in 1949 and both the California and Southern California ladies' championships. She was a member of the 1950 U.S. Curtis Cup golf team and that year won the U.S. Women's Amateur.

In 1951, Hanson turned professional and won the first event she competed in. She won the inaugural LPGA Championship in 1955, defeating Louise Suggs. In 1958 she was the leading money winner on the LPGA Tour.

Hanson had 17 career wins on the LPGA Tour[http://www.lpga.com/content/All-timeWinnersList.pdf LPGA All-Time Winners List] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101229053926/http://www.lpga.com/content/All-timeWinnersList.pdf |date=December 29, 2010 }} of which three were majors. Besides the inaugural LPGA major title, in 1956 she won the Women's Western Open and in 1958 the Titleholders Championship.

Hanson died on April 12, 2014, in Twin Falls, Idaho, from complications from Alzheimer's and COPD.{{cite web |url=http://www.lpga.com/golf/news/2014/4/hanson-talented-pioneer.aspx |title=Hanson was colorful, talented LPGA Tour pioneer |publisher=LPGA |first=Neal |last=Reid |date=April 25, 2014}}{{cite news |url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/apr/22/beverly-hanson-forgotten-pioneer-in-womens-golf/?page=1 |title=Beverly Hanson, forgotten pioneer in women's golf |newspaper=Washington Times |first=Doug |last=Ferguson |agency=Associated Press |date=April 22, 2014}}

Hanson was elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2023 and will be inducted in 2024.{{cite news |url=https://www.espn.com/golf/story/_/id/35813789/padraig-harrington-lpga-founders-join-24-golf-hall-fame-class |title=Padraig Harrington, LPGA founders join '24 Golf Hall of Fame class |work=ESPN |agency=Associated Press |date=March 9, 2023}}