Don Donatello is a distinguished professional golfer and seasoned PGA Tour caddy with an impressive career spanning over three decades. A graduate of then-Chowan College in 1993, Don played on the golf team and achieved remarkable records, finishing 59-1 and 60-1 over two years and securing eight tournament wins. Despite receiving multiple NCAA Division 1 scholarship offers after his stellar career at Chowan, he chose to turn professional, amassing over 70 tournament victories and setting 14 course records.
Don's television presence began with an audition for the Golf Channel's “Big Break,” where he emerged as the runner-up among 10,000 applicants. His performances on various Golf Channel shows, including “Big Break 4” and “Big Break 7,” showcased his golfing talent and his on-air charisma, earning him significant accolades and prizes.To date, Big Break 2 has the best rating of any show the Golf Channel has ever aired.
His international acclaim was further solidified through a top 5 performance on the show, “Golf with Style”, at the Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia. His top performance in that show earned him an invitation to “Golf with Style” Part II, in Melbourne, Australia, where he claimed the title.
Don has had a remarkable career as a PGA caddy. He has surpassed 550 total events on the PGA Tour as a caddy, collaborating with top players like Chris DiMarco, Webb Simpson, Andy Bean, Kevin Na, JJ Henry, Billy Horschel, and Alex Smalley.
Beyond the greens, he has been a dedicated member of Lifeway Church in Sanford, Florida, for over 15 years. Don shares his life with his college sweetheart, Cheryl, marking 34 years together and 27 years of marriage. They are proud parents of two children and doting grandparents to two grandchildren.
Don attributes much of his success to Chowan College, specifically acknowledging the invaluable support of Professor Patsy Taylor and Coach William Sowell.
