Junior Amateur in 1971, beating Robert Steele in the final, 4 and 3, to become the tournament's youngest champion, at 15 years, 8 months.

He played college golf at Brigham Young University, where he was a four-time All-American, graduating in 1978.

His best finish on tour was second place at the 1979 Houston Open, two strokes behind Wayne Levi.

Brannan quit the tour after the 1983 season and became an equipment rep for Ping, a position he held until his death in 2013.

[7] He was reinstated as an amateur golf in the late 1980s and won the Northern California Senior Championship in 2012.