Donna Caponi-Byrnes (born January 29, 1945) is an American LPGA Tour professional golfer. She became a member of the tour in 1965 and won four major championships and 24 LPGA Tour career events. She is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame.

Early life and amateur career Caponi was born in Detroit, Michigan. She started playing golf at the age of 5. She learned golf from her father, Harry, and won the Los Angeles Junior title in 1956.

She tied for 21st as an amateur at the 1964 Hillside House Ladies' Open on the LPGA Tour.

Professional career In 1965, Caponi joined the LPGA Tour. She won her first tournament in 1969 at the U.S. Women's Open. She is one of 14 players to make the U.S. Women’s Open her first LPGA victory. She would repeat as champion in 1970. Only Mickey Wright had ever won back-to-back U.S. Women's Opens before Caponi, who also matched Wright's 72-hole scoring record of 287. She would go on to win a total of 24 events on the LPGA Tour, including four major championships.

Caponi was named Female Player of the Year by Golf Writers Association of America in 1981. She finished in the top ten on the money list ten times between 1968 and 1981, including second-place finishes in 1976 and 1980. She retired from full-time competition in 1988. She was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2001. In 2009, she was the recipient of the PGA First Lady of Golf Award.

She is currently an announcer on the Golf Channel, covering the Champions Tour.

Personal life From 1971 to 1981, Caponi was married to Ken Young and was known as Donna Caponi Young. After her divorce in 1981, she changed her name back to Donna Caponi.

She married her longtime boyfriend Edward "Ted" Byrnes on July 29, 2006, and changed her name to Donna Caponi-Byrnes.

Awards and honors

In 1981, Caponi was named Female Player of the Year by Golf Writers Association of America. In 2001, she was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. In 2009, Caponi-Byrnes earned the PGA First Lady of Golf Award.

Professional wins (29)

LPGA Tour wins (24) LegendLPGA Tour major championships (4)Other LPGA Tour (20)

No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up1Jun 29, 1969U.S. Women's Open +2 (74-75-76-69=294)1 stroke Peggy Wilson2Sep 21, 1969Lincoln-Mercury Open−2 (74-68-72=214)Playoff Kathy Whitworth3May 24, 1970Bluegrass Invitational−2 (72-70-72=214)1 stroke Mary Mills4Jul 5, 1970U.S. Women's Open +3 (69-70-71-77=287)1 stroke Sandra Haynie Sandra Spuzich5May 20, 1973Bluegrass Invitational−3 (72-72-72=216)2 strokes Sandra Spuzich6Feb 2, 1975Burdine's Invitational−8 (70-71-67=208)3 strokes Kathy Cornelius7May 11, 1975Lady Tara Classic−5 (72-70-72=214)1 stroke Gloria Ehret Sandra Post8Jun 13, 1976Peter Jackson Classic−4 (72-73-67=212)Playoff Judy Rankin9Sep 19, 1976Portland Classic−2 (72-71-74=217)Playoff Clifford Ann Creed10Sep 26, 1976The Carlton−6 (69-69-72-72=282)5 strokes Jane Blalock Judy Rankin11Nov 3, 1976LPGA/Japan Mizuno Classic−5 (74-71-72=217)4 strokes Chako Higuchi12Sep 17, 1978The Sarah Coventry−10 (72-71-68-71=282)5 strokes Jane Blalock13Oct 22, 1978Houston Exchange Clubs Classic−9 (70-68-69=207)3 strokes Alexandra Reinhardt14Jun 10, 1979LPGA Championship−9 (69-70-70-70=279)3 strokes Jerilyn Britz15Mar 23, 1980LPGA National Pro-Am−2 (71-74-71-70=286)1 stroke Nancy Lopez16Apr 6, 1980Colgate-Dinah Shore Winner's Circle−13 (71-67-66-71=275)2 strokes Amy Alcott17May 25, 1980Corning Classic−7 (66-72-69-74=281)2 strokes Myra Blackwelder18Sep 14, 1980United Virginia Bank Classic−11 (70-67-66-74=277)4 strokes Nancy Lopez19Sep 21, 1980ERA Real Estate Classic−9 (75-68-71-69=283)5 strokes Shelley Hamlin20Mar 22, 1981LPGA Desert Inn Pro-Am−3 (74-75-69-68=286)3 strokes Pat Bradley21Apr 12, 1981American Defender/WRAL Golf Classic−8 (71-65-72=208)1 stroke Cathy Sherk22Jun 14, 1981LPGA Championship−8 (69-68-70-73=280)1 stroke Jerilyn Britz Pat Meyers23Jul 19, 1981WUI Classic−6 (71-69-69-73=282)2 strokes Julie Pyne24Aug 2, 1981Boston Five Classic−12 (69-68-68-71=276)6 strokes Jan Stephenson Note: Caponi won the Peter Jackson Classic (which became the du Maurier Classic) and the Colgate-Dinah Shore Winner's Circle (now known as the Kraft Nabisco Championship) before they became major championships.

LPGA Tour playoff record (3–5) No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result11969Lincoln-Mercury Open Kathy WhitworthWon with par on first extra hole 21974Lady Tara Classic Sandra Spuzich Kathy Whitworth Spuzich won with par on fifth extra holeWhitworth eliminated by par on third hole31976Peter Jackson Classic Judy RankinWon with par on first extra hole41976 Portland Classic Clifford Ann CreedWon with birdie on second extra hole51979Women's Kemper Open JoAnne Carner Chako Higuchi Nancy Lopez Jan StephensonCarner won with par on second extra holeCaponi, Lopez, and Stephenson eliminated by par on first hole61980 West Virginia LPGA Classic Sandra PostLost to birdie on third extra hole71981Florida Lady Citrus Beth Daniel Cindy Hill Patti Rizzo Patty SheehanDaniel won with birdie on second extra holeHill, Rizzo, and Sheehan eliminated by par on first hole 81981Inamori Classic Amy Alcott Hollis Stacy Jan StephensonStacy won with birdie on first extra hole Sources:

Other wins (5) 1975 Colgate European Open 1976 Wills Qantas Australian Ladies Open 1978 Ping Classic Team Championship (with Kathy Whitworth) 1980 Portland Ping Team Championship (with Kathy Whitworth) 1981 Portland Ping Team Championship (with Kathy Whitworth)

Major championships

Wins (4) YearChampionshipWinning scoreMarginRunner(s)-up 1969 U.S. Women's Open +2 (74-76-75-69=294)1 stroke Peggy Wilson 1970 U.S. Women's Open +3 (69-70-71-77=287)1 stroke Sandra Haynie, Sandra Spuzich 1979 LPGA Championship −9 (69-70-70-70=279)3 strokes Jerilyn Britz 1981 LPGA Championship −8 (69-68-70-73=280)1 stroke Jerilyn Britz, Pat Meyers

See also List of golfers with most LPGA Tour wins List of golfers with most LPGA major championship wins

References

External links