Deb Richard
Encyclopedia
Deb Richard is a former American professional golfer
who was a member of the LPGA Tour for ten years during the 1990s and 2000s.
in 1963, and raised in Manhattan, Kansas
. She first found success as an amateur golfer by winning the Kansas state high school golf championship three consecutive years for Manhattan High School (1979–1981). She followed by winning the Kansas
Women's Amateur the next two years (1982, 1983). In 1984, Richard won the prestigious U.S. Women's Amateur
; a few months later she was part of the U.S. team that won the Espirito Santo Trophy
in Hong Kong
.
While competing for coach Mimi Ryan
's Florida Gators women's golf
team at the University of Florida
from 1982 to 1985, she won seven tournaments including three consecutive Southeastern Conference
(SEC) individual championships. As a senior in 1985, she was the individual runner-up, by a single stroke, at the NCAA Women's Golf Championship
, was recognized as the SEC Golfer of the Year, and won the Broderick Award as the nation's outstanding female collegiate golfer. Richard was a first-team All-SEC selection all four years (1982–1985) and a first-team All-American in 1984 and 1985. She graduated from Florida with a bachelor's degree
in advertising
in 1989, and was inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as a "Gator Great" in 1995.
, 1991 The Phar-Mor in Youngstown, 1994 Safeco Classic
and 1997 Friendly's Classic
. Her best finishes in the LPGA majors included a tie for tenth place in the 1996 Kraft Nabisco Championship
, a tie for fifth in the 1991 LPGA Championship
, a tie for ninth in the 1986 U.S. Women's Open
, and ties for fourth in the 1988 and 1998 du Maurier Classic
. In 1992, Richard was selected for the U.S. Solheim Cup
team. Her career earning as a professional golfer totaled $2,759,551.
Richard has been inducted into the Kansas Golf Hall of Fame. She has also received a number of awards for her charitable activities.
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 was a member of the LPGA Tour for ten years during the 1990s and 2000s.
Amateur career
Richard was born in Abbeville, LouisianaAbbeville, Louisiana
Abbeville is a town in and the parish seat of Vermilion Parish, Louisiana, United States, 150 miles west of New Orleans. The population was 12,257 at the 2010 census...
in 1963, and raised in Manhattan, Kansas
Manhattan, Kansas
Manhattan is a city located in the northeastern part of the state of Kansas in the United States, at the junction of the Kansas River and Big Blue River. It is the county seat of Riley County and the city extends into Pottawatomie County. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 52,281...
. She first found success as an amateur golfer by winning the Kansas state high school golf championship three consecutive years for Manhattan High School (1979–1981). She followed by winning the Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
Women's Amateur the next two years (1982, 1983). In 1984, Richard won the prestigious 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...
; a few months later she was part of the U.S. team that won the 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...
in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
.
While competing 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 at 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...
from 1982 to 1985, she won seven tournaments including three consecutive Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
(SEC) individual championships. As a senior in 1985, she was the individual runner-up, by a single stroke, at the NCAA Women's Golf Championship
NCAA Women's Golf Championship
NCAA Champions for women's golf:-Division I:-Division II-III combined:-Division II:-Division III:-Team:The following schools have won more than one team championship:*15: Methodist*7: Arizona State*5: Duke, Rollins*4: Florida Southern...
, was recognized as the SEC Golfer of the Year, and won the Broderick Award as the nation's outstanding female collegiate golfer. Richard was a first-team All-SEC selection all four years (1982–1985) and a first-team All-American in 1984 and 1985. 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 advertising
Advertising
Advertising is a form of communication used to persuade an audience to take some action with respect to products, ideas, or services. Most commonly, the desired result is to drive consumer behavior with respect to a commercial offering, although political and ideological advertising is also common...
in 1989, and was inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as a "Gator Great" in 1995.
Professional career
Richard played on the LPGA Tour or twenty years (1986–2005), during which she won five Tour events and finished in the top-10 in over seventy events. Her five wins included the 1987 Rochester International, 1991 Women's Kemper OpenWomen's Kemper Open
The Women's Kemper Open was a golf tournament on the LPGA Tour from 1979 to 1992. It was played at several different courses in California and Hawaii.-Tournament locations:-Winners:*1992 Dawn Coe*1991 Deb Richard*1990 Beth Daniel*1989 Betsy King...
, 1991 The Phar-Mor in Youngstown, 1994 Safeco Classic
Safeco Classic
The Safeco Classic was a women's professional golf tournament on the LPGA Tour in the Seattle area, sponsored by Safeco Insurance. It was played 18 times, from 1982 to 1999, at in Kent, Washington, usually in mid-September, the week following the Safeway Classic in Portland...
and 1997 Friendly's Classic
Friendly's Classic
The Friendly's Classic was a golf tournament on the LPGA Tour from 1995 to 1998. It was played at Crestview Country Club in Agawam, Massachusetts.-Winners:*1998 Amy Fruhwirth*1997 Deb Richard*1996 Dottie Pepper*1995 Becky Iverson-External links:*...
. Her best finishes in the LPGA majors included a tie for tenth place in the 1996 Kraft Nabisco Championship
Kraft Nabisco Championship
The Kraft Nabisco Championship is one of the four major championships on the LPGA Tour. It was founded in 1972 by Dinah Shore and has been classified as a major since 1983...
, a tie for fifth in the 1991 LPGA Championship
LPGA Championship
The LPGA Championship, currently known for sponsorship reasons as the Wegmans LPGA Championship, is the second-longest running tournament in the history of the Ladies Professional Golf Association surpassed only by the U.S. Women's Open. It is one of four majors on the LPGA tour...
, a tie for ninth in the 1986 U.S. Women's Open
United States Women's Open Championship (golf)
The United States Women's Open Golf Championship, one of thirteen national championships conducted by the United States Golf Association , is one of the LPGA's major championships along with the LPGA Championship, the Women's British Open, and the Kraft Nabisco Championship...
, and ties for fourth in the 1988 and 1998 du Maurier Classic
Canadian Women's Open
The CN Canadian Women's Open is a women's professional golf tournament managed by the Royal Canadian Golf Association. It has been Canada's national championship tournament since 1973, and is an official event on the LPGA Tour.-History:...
. In 1992, Richard was selected for the U.S. Solheim Cup
Solheim Cup
The Solheim Cup is a biennial golf tournament for professional women golfers contested by teams representing Europe and the United States. It is named after the Norwegian-American golf club manufacturer Karsten Solheim, who was a driving force behind its creation.The inaugural Cup was held in 1990,...
team. Her career earning as a professional golfer totaled $2,759,551.
Richard has been inducted into the Kansas Golf Hall of Fame. She has also received a number of awards for her charitable activities.
LPGA Tour wins (5)
- 19871987 LPGA TourThe 1987 LPGA Tour was the 38th season since the LPGA Tour officially began in 1950. The season ran from January 29 to November 8. The season consisted of 33 official money events. Jane Geddes won the most tournaments, five...
(1) Rochester International - 19911991 LPGA TourThe 1991 LPGA Tour was the 42nd season since the LPGA Tour officially began in 1950. The season ran from January 18 to November 10. The season consisted of 34 official money events. Pat Bradley and Meg Mallon won the most tournaments, four each. Bradley led the money list with earnings of...
(2) Women's Kemper OpenWomen's Kemper OpenThe Women's Kemper Open was a golf tournament on the LPGA Tour from 1979 to 1992. It was played at several different courses in California and Hawaii.-Tournament locations:-Winners:*1992 Dawn Coe*1991 Deb Richard*1990 Beth Daniel*1989 Betsy King...
, The Phar-Mor in Youngstown - 19941994 LPGA TourThe 1994 LPGA Tour was the 45th season since the LPGA Tour officially began in 1950. The season ran from February 4 to November 6. The season consisted of 32 official money events. Beth Daniel won the most tournaments, four...
(1) Safeco ClassicSafeco ClassicThe Safeco Classic was a women's professional golf tournament on the LPGA Tour in the Seattle area, sponsored by Safeco Insurance. It was played 18 times, from 1982 to 1999, at in Kent, Washington, usually in mid-September, the week following the Safeway Classic in Portland... - 19971997 LPGA TourThe 1997 LPGA Tour was the 48th season since the LPGA Tour officially began in 1950. The season ran from January 9 to November 23. The season consisted of 38 official money events. Annika Sörenstam won the most tournaments, six...
(1) Friendly's ClassicFriendly's ClassicThe Friendly's Classic was a golf tournament on the LPGA Tour from 1995 to 1998. It was played at Crestview Country Club in Agawam, Massachusetts.-Winners:*1998 Amy Fruhwirth*1997 Deb Richard*1996 Dottie Pepper*1995 Becky Iverson-External links:*...
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