Donna White
Encyclopedia
Donna Horton White née Donna Horton, is a former American professional golfer
who played on the LPGA Tour for fifteen years in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.
. She had a successful amateur golf career, and was a semi-finalist in the 1971 U.S. Girls' Junior
. In the U.S. Women's Amateur
, she was a semi-finalist in 1973, runner-up in 1975 and winner in 1976. She also won the 1976 Trans-National Amateur. She was a member of the winning Curtis Cup
and Espirito Santo Trophy
teams in 1976.
She attended the University of Florida
in Gainesville, Florida
, where she played for coach Mimi Ryan
's Florida Gators women's golf
team in Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women
(AIAW) competition in 1975 and 1976. During her time as a Gator golfer, she was a four-time collegiate medalist. She graduated from Florida with a bachelor's degree
in health and human performance in 1976, and was inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as a "Gator Great" in 1978.
and the 1983 Sarasota Classic
. Her best finish in a LPGA major was a tie for second in the 1982 U.S. Women's Open
. She also finished 4th at the 1984 du Maurier Classic
after opening the final round one shot out of the lead. White retired after the 1992 season, with total career winnings of $908,589.
LPGA Tour playoff record (1-1)
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 LPGA Tour for fifteen years in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.
Amateur career
White was born in Kinston, North CarolinaKinston, North Carolina
Kinston is a city in Lenoir County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 23,688 at the 2000 census. The population was estimated at 22,360 in 2008. It has been the county seat of Lenoir County since its formation in 1791 . Kinston is located in North Carolina's Inner Banks...
. She had a successful amateur golf career, and was a semi-finalist in the 1971 U.S. Girls' Junior
United States Girls' Junior Golf Championship
The United States Girls' Junior Championship is one of the thirteen U.S. national golf championships organized by the United States Golf Association. It is open to amateur girls who are under 18 on the last day of the competition and have a USGA handicap index of 18.4 or less...
. In the U.S. Women's Amateur
United States Women's Amateur Golf Championship
The U.S. Women's Amateur is the leading golf tournament in the United States for female amateur golfers. It is played annually and is one of the 13 United States national golf championships organized by the United States Golf Association . Female amateurs from all nations are eligible to compete...
, she was a semi-finalist in 1973, runner-up in 1975 and winner in 1976. She also won the 1976 Trans-National Amateur. She was a member of the winning Curtis Cup
Curtis Cup
The Curtis Cup is the best known team trophy for women amateur golfers, awarded in the biennial Curtis Cup Match . It is co-organised by the United States Golf Association and the Ladies Golf Union and is contested by teams representing the United States and "Great Britain and Ireland"...
and Espirito Santo Trophy
Espirito Santo Trophy
The Espirito Santo Trophy is a biennial world amateur team golf championship for women organised by the International Golf Federation. The inaugural event was held in 1964 and recent tournaments have featured teams from around forty countries. It is a strokeplay event, in which the best two...
teams in 1976.
She attended the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
in Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Alachua County, Florida, United States as well as the principal city of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area . The preliminary 2010 Census population count for Gainesville is 124,354. Gainesville is home to the sixth...
, where she played for coach Mimi Ryan
Mimi Ryan
Mimi Ryan is a former American college golf coach. Ryan was the founder and long-time head coach of the Florida Gators women's golf program at the University of Florida...
's Florida Gators women's golf
Florida Gators women's golf
The Florida Gators women's golf team represents the University of Florida in the sport of golf. The Lady Gators compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association and the Southeastern Conference . They play their home matches on the Mark Bostick Golf Course on the university's...
team in Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women
Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women
The Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women was founded in 1971 to govern collegiate women's athletics in the United States and to administer national championships. It evolved out of the Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics for Women . The association was one of the biggest...
(AIAW) competition in 1975 and 1976. During her time as a Gator golfer, she was a four-time collegiate medalist. She graduated from Florida with a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in health and human performance in 1976, and was inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as a "Gator Great" in 1978.
Professional career
White played on the LPGA Tour for sixteen years (1977–1992). She won three Tour events, including the 1980 Florida Lady Citrus, the 1983 Coca-Cola ClassicChrysler-Plymouth Classic
The Chrysler-Plymouth Classic was a golf tournament on the LPGA Tour from 1976 to 1989. It was played at several courses, mostly in New Jersey.-Tournament locations:-Winners:Chrysler-Plymouth Classic*1989 Cindy Rarick*1988 Nancy Lopez*1987 Ayako Okamoto...
and the 1983 Sarasota Classic
Sarasota Classic
The Sarasota Classic was a golf tournament on the LPGA Tour from 1976 to 1988. It was played at Bent Tree Country Club in Sarasota, Florida.-Winners:Sarasota Classic*1988 Patty Sheehan*1987 Nancy Lopez*1986 Patty Sheehan*1985 Patty Sheehan...
. Her best finish in a LPGA major was a tie for second in the 1982 U.S. Women's Open
1982 U.S. Women's Open Golf Championship
The 1982 U.S. Women's Open Golf Championship was contested from July 22 to July 25 at Del Paso Country Club. It was the 37th edition of the U.S. Women's Open.This event was won by Janet Anderson.-Final leaderboard:-External links:**...
. She also finished 4th at the 1984 du Maurier Classic
1984 du Maurier Classic
The 1984 du Maurier Classic was contested from July 26–29 at St. George's Golf and Country Club. It was the 12th edition of the du Maurier Classic, and the 6th edition as a major championship on the LPGA Tour.This event was won by Juli Inkster....
after opening the final round one shot out of the lead. White retired after the 1992 season, with total career winnings of $908,589.
LPGA Tour wins
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory | Runner(s)-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apr 20, 1980 1980 LPGA Tour The 1980 LPGA Tour was the 31st season since the LPGA Tour officially began in 1950. The season ran from February 1 to November 9. The season consisted of 38 official money events. Donna Caponi and JoAnne Carner won the most tournaments, five each... |
Florida Lady Citrus | 1 stroke |  Jane BlalockJane Blalock Jane Blalock is a retired American professional golfer. She became a member of the LPGA Tour in 1969 and won 27 LPGA Tour events in all.-Amateur career:... |
|
| 2 | May 18, 1980 1980 LPGA Tour The 1980 LPGA Tour was the 31st season since the LPGA Tour officially began in 1950. The season ran from February 1 to November 9. The season consisted of 38 official money events. Donna Caponi and JoAnne Carner won the most tournaments, five each... |
Coca-Cola Classic Chrysler-Plymouth Classic The Chrysler-Plymouth Classic was a golf tournament on the LPGA Tour from 1976 to 1989. It was played at several courses, mostly in New Jersey.-Tournament locations:-Winners:Chrysler-Plymouth Classic*1989 Cindy Rarick*1988 Nancy Lopez*1987 Ayako Okamoto... |
Playoff | Debbie Massey Debbie Massey Debbie Massey is an American professional golfer.Massey won three events on the LPGA Tour, not including back-to-back victories in the Women's British Open, which is now one of the LPGA's major championships... |
|
| 3 | Feb 13, 1983 1983 LPGA Tour The 1983 LPGA Tour was the 34th season since the LPGA Tour officially began in 1950. The season ran from January 27 to November 13. The season consisted of 33 official money events. Pat Bradley and Patty Sheehan won the most tournaments, four each... |
Sarasota Classic Sarasota Classic The Sarasota Classic was a golf tournament on the LPGA Tour from 1976 to 1988. It was played at Bent Tree Country Club in Sarasota, Florida.-Winners:Sarasota Classic*1988 Patty Sheehan*1987 Nancy Lopez*1986 Patty Sheehan*1985 Patty Sheehan... |
1 stroke | JoAnne Carner JoAnne Carner JoAnne Gunderson Carner is a former American professional golfer. Her 43 victories on the LPGA Tour led to her induction in the World Golf Hall of Fame. She is the only woman to have won the U.S. Girls' Junior, U.S. Women's Amateur, and U.S. Women's Open titles, and was the first person ever to... , Nancy LopezNancy Lopez Nancy Marie Lopez is an American professional golfer. She became a member of the LPGA Tour in 1977 and won 48 LPGA Tour events during her LPGA career, including three major championships.-Amateur career:... , Alice MillerAlice Miller (golfer) Alice Miller is an American professional golfer. She attended Arizona State University and was a 1978 rookie on the LPGA Tour. Between 1983 and 1991 she won eight titles on the tour, including one major championship, the 1985 Nabisco Dinah Shore. She also had her highest finish on the money list... |
LPGA Tour playoff record (1-1)
| No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent(s) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1980 | Coca-Cola Classic Chrysler-Plymouth Classic The Chrysler-Plymouth Classic was a golf tournament on the LPGA Tour from 1976 to 1989. It was played at several courses, mostly in New Jersey.-Tournament locations:-Winners:Chrysler-Plymouth Classic*1989 Cindy Rarick*1988 Nancy Lopez*1987 Ayako Okamoto... |
Debbie Massey Debbie Massey Debbie Massey is an American professional golfer.Massey won three events on the LPGA Tour, not including back-to-back victories in the Women's British Open, which is now one of the LPGA's major championships... |
Webb won with par on first extra hole |
| 2 | 1983 | Rochester International |  Ayako OkamotoAyako Okamoto is a Japanese professional golfer. She won 62 tournaments internationally, including 17 on the American LPGA Tour. She is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame.-Early career:... , Kathy WhitworthKathy Whitworth Kathy Whitworth is an American professional golfer. Throughout her playing career she won 88 LPGA Tour tournaments, more than anyone else has won on either the LPGA Tour or the PGA Tour. In 1981 she became the first woman to reach career earnings of $1 million on the LPGA Tour... |
Okamoto won with birdie on third extra hole |
See also
- Florida GatorsFlorida GatorsThe Florida Gators are the intercollegiate sports teams that represent the University of Florida located in Gainesville, Florida. The "Lady Gators" is an alternative nickname sometimes used by the Gators women's teams...
- List of Florida Gators golfers
- List of University of Florida alumni