Meet the Champions
AMY ALCOTT
Amy’s long career of being a Southland golfer began at the age of 9 at her Brentwood home. She competed throughout Southern California and in her amateur career amassed 132 junior golf trophies, including the 1973 U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship at the age of 17. Alcott made history in 1974 as the first female golfer to play in the CIF-SCGA high school championship, as a member of the Palisades High School boys’ team. Alcott competed on the LPGA Tour for 30 seasons, winning 29 events during that time. In her career she won five major championships including the Kraft Nabisco Championship three times where she started the tradition of jumping into Poppie’s Pond at Mission Hills CC after winning the 1988 title. Most recently, Amy was honored by the SCGA when she was inducted into their Hall of Fame in 2011.
NANCI BOWEN
Nanci played on the LPGA Tour for 14 years and captured the Nabisco Dinah Shore in 1995 by one stroke. A native of Georgia, she was a two-time All American at the University of Georgia before turning professional in 1991. Nanci earned Player of the Year honors on the Futures Tour in 1993 and played in 12 U.S. Opens. After retiring from the Tour, she served as Athletic Director at Wesleyan College from 2007 to 2009 and currently teaches in Greenville, SC.
PAT BRADLEY
Pat became a member of the LPGA Tour in 1974 and won six major championships and 31 LPGA Tour events in all. She earned her first win at the Girl Talk Classic in 1976. Pat led the LPGA in wins in 1983 (4) and 1986 (5). In 1986, she won three of the four LPGA majors – the du Maurier Classic, Nabisco Dinah Shore and LPGA Championship. She is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame and additional career highlights include playing on three U.S. Solheim Cup teams (1990, 1992, 1996) and being the team captain in 2000.
DONNA CAPONI
Donna was born in Detroit, MI and began playing golf at the age of eight. She joined the LPGA Tour at age 20 and won 24 events, including back to back U.S. Women’s Open titles in 1969 and 1970. She won two additional major titles in her career, the LPGA Championships in 1979 and 1981. Donna was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2001.
BETSY KING
Betsy was born in Reading, PA and went on to play collegiate golf at Furman University, where she was on the 1976 national championship team. Betsy was low amateur at the 1976 U.S. Women’s Open, then joined the LPGA Tour in 1977. She won her first tournament at the 1984 Women’s Kemper Open. She won three titles in 1984 and added 21 top-10 finishes to earn LPGA Tour Player of the Year honors. From 1984 through 1989, King won a total of 20 LPGA events, more wins than any other golfer in the world, male or female, during that time period. With her 30th win in 1995, she gained entry into the World Golf Hall of Fame.
NANCY LOPEZ
Nancy was born in Torrance, Calif. She won the New Mexico Women’s Amateur three times, the first at age 12, followed by the U.S. Girls’ Junior in 1972 and 1974. Nancy left college after her sophomore year and became a member of the LPGA Tour in 1977, winning 48 events during her career including the LPGA Championship three times. Her extensive list of achievements and awards includes LPGA Tour Rookie of the Year in 1978, Player of the Year honors four times, AP Female Athlete of the Year in 1978 and 1985, all leading to entry into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1987.
PATRICIA MEUNIER-LEBOUC
Patricia was born in Dijon, France. As an amateur, she won the French Cup and the Greece International in 1993. Patricia turned professional in 1994 and initially played on the Ladies European Tour. She then qualified for the LPGA Tour by tying for 27th at the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament to earn non-exempt status for the 2001 season. She captured her first LPGA tour victory in 2002 and the following year she won her first major, the Kraft Nabisco Championship.
ALICE MILLER
Alice Miller was born in Marsville, CA and attended Arizona State University where she was part of the 1975 AIAW National Collegiate Championship team. She joined the LPGA Tour in 1978, earning a total of nine professional wins, including the 1985 Nabisco Dinah Shore. Alice served as president of the LPGA Tour in 1993.
SANDRA PALMER
Sandra started playing golf at the age of 13 in Maine, where she worked as a caddie. Palmer became a member of the LPGA Tour in 1964. She went on to win 19 events including two major championships. She topped the money list for 1975 and was awarded the LPGA Player of the Year title.
PATTY SHEEHAN
Patty was rated one of the top junior snow skiers in the country at 13 years old before moving to Nevada and winning three straight high school championships, three straight Nevada State Amateur Championships and two straight California Women’s Amateurs. She turned professional in 1980, earning Rookie of the Year honors in 1981, Player of the Year honors in 1983 and winning the LPGA Championship in 1983, 1984 and 1993. Patty played on the U.S. Solheim Cup team five times and captained the team in 2003. In 1993, she was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.
KATHY WHITWORTH
Kathy was born in Monahans, TX and began playing golf at the age of 15. After winning the 1957 and 1958 New Mexico State Amateur Championship, she became a professional player at 19. She was LPGA Player of the Year seven times, won the Vare Trophy for best scoring average by an LPGA Tour Player a record seven times and entered the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1975. During her playing career she won 88 LPGA Tour tournaments, and in 1981 became the first woman to reach career earnings of $1 million on the tour. Kathy then served as the U.S. team captain at the inaugural Solheim Cup match in 1990.
