{{short description|Italian American professional golfer}} {{use mdy dates|date=January 2024}} {{Infobox golfer | name = Toney Penna | image = Toney Penna 1942.jpg | image_size = <!-- e.g. 250px (default is 200px) --> | caption = Penna in 1942 | fullname = Toney G. Penna | nickname = | birth_date = {{Birth date|1908|1|15|mf=y}} | birth_place = Naples, Italy | death_date = {{Death date and age|1995|8|6|1908|1|15|mf=y}} | death_place = Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, U.S. | height = <!-- {{height|ft=|in=}} OR {{height|m=|precision=0}} --> | weight = <!-- {{convert| |lb|kg st|abbr=on}} OR {{convert| |kg|lb st|abbr=on}} --> | nationality = {{ITA}}<br>{{USA}} | spouse = | partner = | children = | college = | status = Professional | yearpro = <!-- Year turned professional --> | extour = PGA Tour | prowins = 5 | pgawins = 4 | otherwins = 1 | majorwins = <!-- Number of Major Championship wins --> | masters = T8: 1947 | usopen = T3: 1938 | open = CUT: 1954 | pga = T9: 1944, 1945 | wghofid = <!-- World Golf Hall of Fame member ID --> | wghofyear = <!-- World Golf Hall of Fame year inducted --> | award1 = <!-- Achievement or award details --> | year1 = <!-- Year(s) of achievement or award --> | award2 = | year2 = | awardssection = <!-- location of awards page or section --> }} '''Toney G. Penna''' (January 15, 1908 &ndash; August 6, 1995) was an Italian-American professional golfer and designer of golf clubs and gear.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=DpBfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vDAMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6065,363248&dq=toney+penna&hl=en |title=Two Nationally Known Golfers Will Play Here |date=October 5, 1939 |newspaper=Lewiston Morning Herald |accessdate=September 4, 2011}}</ref><ref name=New>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ooBDAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ba4MAAAAIBAJ&pg=1501,756896&dq=toney+penna&hl=en |title=Something New in Clubs |author=Hennessey, Helen |date=July 15, 1973 |newspaper=The Altus Times-Democrat |accessdate=September 4, 2011}}</ref> He won four events on the PGA Tour between 1937 and 1947.<ref>{{cite book |last=Barkow |first=Al |authorlink=Al Barkow |title=The History of the PGA TOUR |publisher=Doubleday |date=November 1989 |isbn=0-385-26145-4 |others=Copyright PGA Tour |pages=[https://archive.org/details/historyofpgatour00bark/page/239 239–40, 250, 253] |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/historyofpgatour00bark/page/239 }}</ref> He introduced new lines of golf clubs and was the holder of four patents for golf clubs.<ref name=Obit/><ref name=Maker/> Many of these clubs are considered collector's items: some are still in production. He also introduced the use of color to both clubs and to golf accessories, such as carrying bags.

==Biography== Penna was born in Naples, Italy. He grew up in Harrison, New York and also lived in Dayton and Cincinnati, Ohio.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=X6swAAAAIBAJ&sjid=e4oDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3001,1470573&dq=toney+penna&hl=en |title=Penna's 280 Wins Richmond Open |date=January 21, 1946 |newspaper=The Free-Lance Star |accessdate=September 4, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=o_cjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0v8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6681,2201934&dq=toney+penna&hl=en |title=Slamming Sammy and Toney Penna Get 69s to Lead |author=McGeorge, Dick |date=June 14, 1946 |newspaper=Toledo Blade |accessdate=September 4, 2011}}</ref> By 1946, Penna had moved to Delray Beach, Florida.<ref name=North>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=d9FQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=uNAMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5433,2988790&dq=toney+penna&hl=en |title=Toney Penna Wins Golf Tourney |date=November 6, 1946 |newspaper=The Portsmouth Press |accessdate=September 4, 2011}}</ref>

Starting out in golf by being a caddy, Penna was known for his personality and individualism as much as for his golfing abilities.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=wy4_AAAAIBAJ&sjid=51AMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2832,3359164&dq=toney+penna&hl=en |title=Changing Ways of Caddy Ranks Hurt Italians |author=Fraley, Oscar |date=January 11, 1963 |newspaper=The Windsor Star |accessdate=September 4, 2011}}</ref> He was often a critic of his high-ranking golf contemporaries, and published a table illustrating his thoughts about the strengths and weaknesses of each in his autobiography.<ref name=Cold/> With a ready temper but also a sense of humor, Penna's work as a golf pro brought him into contact with Dean Martin, Bing Crosby, and Bob Hope, among others.<ref name=Maker>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PL0qAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-WUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5010,4210830&dq=toney+penna&hl=en |title=And Golf Legends Moan As Palmer Leaves Tour |date=August 16, 1969 |newspaper=Sarasota Herald-Tribune |accessdate=September 4, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OFszAAAAIBAJ&sjid=T-kFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4646,3013694&dq=toney+penna&hl=en |title=Red Smith |author=Smith, Red |date=March 24, 1965 |newspaper=The Miami News |accessdate=September 4, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OeBYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3HoMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4321,2207416&dq=toney+penna&hl=en |title=Bing's Boy Playing in Masters |date=April 9, 1982 |newspaper=Times-Union |accessdate=September 4, 2011}}</ref>

Perry Como was a long-time friend of Penna's. Before his permanent move to Florida, Como often came to golf with him on the weekends after completing his weekly television program.<ref name=Como/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=trsyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=z-oFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4799,5438467&dq=toney+penna&hl=en |title=Como Aids Penna Team |date=December 14, 1959 |newspaper=The Miami News |accessdate=September 4, 2011}}</ref> After a tournament where Penna beat Como, he remarked that the only thing that was keeping him from returning to the large professional golf tours was his lack of hair. A week later, Penna received a package from Como; inside was a hairpiece and a note which said "Go!".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JnMxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GxEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7127,2773253&dq=toney+penna&hl=en |title='Slammer' Sets Lesson In Razzing |date=December 4, 1960 |newspaper=The Milwaukee Sentinel |accessdate=September 4, 2011}}</ref>

Penna was a longtime employee and representative of the MacGregor Golf Company.<ref name=Como>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KP0sAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Lc0FAAAAIBAJ&pg=1433,5496189&dq=mitchell+ayres&hl=en |title=Eggs Ala Como For Toney's Gal |author=Taylor, Dick |date=January 29, 1956 |newspaper=Palm Beach Post |accessdate=27 July 2010}}</ref> After years of working for MacGregor, Penna started his own company and manufactured his own golf clubs.<ref name=New/> A stretch of road in Jupiter, Florida, where his company was located is named after him.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=DQEtAAAAIBAJ&sjid=IM4FAAAAIBAJ&pg=4605,2149500&dq=toney+penna&hl=en |title=3 Golfers Head Hall Nominations |date=January 13, 1980 |newspaper=The Palm Beach Post |accessdate=September 4, 2011}}</ref> Penna used the spelling of his name as an attention-getter, and was known for having a taste for fine clothing.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=sJcgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=RGgFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3993,6371768&dq=toney+penna&hl=en |title=Toney Penna Goes Ahead at Durham |date=March 31, 1945 |newspaper=The Lewiston Daily Sun |accessdate=September 4, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nFpHAAAAIBAJ&sjid=jP4MAAAAIBAJ&pg=956,2992397&dq=toney+penna&hl=en |title=Von Nida Leads Qualifiers For U.S. Open Golf |date=May 31, 1950 |newspaper=Meriden Record |accessdate=September 4, 2011}}</ref> Penna displayed an ability for concentrated problem-solving in improving golf club performance which led to his success as an equipment representative, a golf pro, and also as the producer of his own line of golf clubs.<ref name=Cold>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LddWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2UINAAAAIBAJ&pg=1206,54892&dq=toney+penna&hl=en |title=Sports Parade |author=Fraley, Oscar |date=July 1, 1953 |newspaper=The News-Dispatch |accessdate=September 4, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=-R0qAAAAIBAJ&sjid=eYcFAAAAIBAJ&pg=615,1486804&dq=toney+penna&hl=en |title=Nixon Uses Baseball Grip In Golf |author=Grimsley, Will |date=July 9, 1969 |newspaper=Tri City Herald |accessdate=September 4, 2011}}</ref>

With his brother, Charley, Penna was associated with the Beverly and with the Calumet Country Clubs, both near Chicago; at one time both brothers were playing professionally.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=J1YyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ULYFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2528,3215294&dq=toney+penna&hl=en |title=Penna Boys Pushed to Beat Local Duo |date=December 1, 1941 |newspaper=The Palm Beach Post |accessdate=September 4, 2011}}</ref> Penna died in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida in 1995 at the age of 87.<ref name=Obit>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=XMJOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=B_0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=5724,4736755&dq=toney+penna&hl=en |title=Plant City's Stiles falls in semifinals |date=August 7, 1995 |newspaper=Lakeland Ledger |accessdate=September 4, 2011}}</ref>

==Professional wins==

===PGA Tour wins (4)=== *1937 Pennsylvania Open Championship *1938 Kansas City Open<ref name=richmond/> *1946 Richmond Open<ref name=richmond>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yXcbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vUwEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2873,6029883&dq=toney+penna&hl=en |title=Penna Captures Richmond Golf |date=January 21, 1946 |newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press |accessdate=September 4, 2011}}</ref> *1947 Atlanta Open<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=cQNZAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4E4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4361,4219771&dq=toney+penna&hl=en |title=Toney Penna Wins Atlanta Tourney |date=September 22, 1947 |newspaper=St. Petersburg Times |accessdate=September 4, 2011}}</ref>

Source:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Toney Penna |url=https://www.pgatour.com/player/05479/toney-penna |access-date=2025-09-03 |publisher=PGA Tour}}</ref>

===Other wins=== ''this list is incomplete'' *1948 North and South Open<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=EFtIAAAAIBAJ&sjid=LE4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=1722,2454776&dq=toney+penna&hl=en |title=Penna Wins North-South |date=November 6, 1948 |newspaper=St. Petersburg Times |accessdate=September 4, 2011}}</ref>

==Results in major championships== {| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;text-align:center;" !Tournament !1934 !1935 !1936 !1937 !1938 !1939 |- |align=left|Masters Tournament |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |T31 |style="background:yellow;"|T10 |- |align=left|U.S. Open |T55 |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |CUT |T28 |style="background:yellow;"|T3 |CUT |- |align=left|The Open Championship |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |- |align=left|PGA Championship |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |} {| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;text-align:center;" !Tournament !1940 !1941 !1942 !1943 !1944 !1945 !1946 !1947 !1948 !1949 |- |align=left|Masters Tournament |style="background:yellow;"|T10 |T19 |22 |style="background:#eeeeee;"|NT |style="background:#eeeeee;"|NT |style="background:#eeeeee;"|NT |T21 |style="background:yellow;"|T8 |46 |T23 |- |align=left|U.S. Open |42 |T33 |style="background:#eeeeee;"|NT |style="background:#eeeeee;"|NT |style="background:#eeeeee;"|NT |style="background:#eeeeee;"|NT |T15 |T31 |style="background:yellow;"|T8 |CUT |- |align=left|The Open Championship |style="background:#eeeeee;"|NT |style="background:#eeeeee;"|NT |style="background:#eeeeee;"|NT |style="background:#eeeeee;"|NT |style="background:#eeeeee;"|NT |style="background:#eeeeee;"|NT |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |- |align=left|PGA Championship |R64 |R32 |R32 |style="background:#eeeeee;"|NT |style="background:yellow;"|R16 |style="background:yellow;"|R16 |R32 |R32 |R64 |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |} {| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;text-align:center;" !Tournament !1950 !1951 !1952 !1953 !1954 |- |align=left|Masters Tournament |T21 |WD |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |- |align=left|U.S. Open |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |CUT |- |align=left|The Open Championship |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |CUT |- |align=left|PGA Championship |R64 |R32 |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |style="background:#eeeeee;"| |R64 |} {{legend|yellow|Top 10}} {{legend|#eeeeee|Did not play}} NT = no tournament<br> WD = withdrew<br> CUT = missed the half-way cut<br> R64, R32, R16, QF, SF = round in which player lost in PGA Championship match play<br> "T" indicates a tie for a place

===Summary=== {| class=wikitable style=text-align:center !Tournament !! Wins !! 2nd !! 3rd !! Top-5 !! Top-10 !! Top-25 !! Events !! Cuts made |- |align=left|Masters Tournament || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 3 || 8 || 11 || 10 |- |align=left|U.S. Open || 0 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 2 || 3 || 12 || 8 |- |align=left|The Open Championship || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 |- |align=left|PGA Championship || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 2 || 7 || 11 || 11 |- !Totals !! 0 !! 0 !! 1 !! 1 !! 7 !! 18 !! 35 !! 29 |} *Most consecutive cuts made – 20 (1940 Masters – 1949 Masters) *Longest streak of top-10s – 2 (twice)

==References== {{reflist}}

==Further reading== {{cite book |last1=Penna |first1=Toney |last2=Farley |first2=Oscar |title=My Wonderful World of Golf |year=1965 |publisher=Centaur House |asin=B000I6ZUME }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Penna, Toney}} Category:Italian male golfers Category:American male golfers Category:PGA Tour golfers Category:Golfers from Ohio Category:Golfers from Florida Category:Sportspeople from Naples Category:People from Harrison, New York Category:Golfers from Westchester County, New York Category:Sportspeople from Dayton, Ohio Category:Sportspeople from Cincinnati Category:Sportspeople from Delray Beach, Florida Category:Italian emigrants to the United States Category:1908 births Category:1995 deaths Category:20th-century Italian sportsmen