Bio

5’6”...Started playing golf at the age of 11...Credits Ron Schmedemann and teacher Peter Kostis as having most influenced her career...Inducted into the University of Florida Hall of Fame in 1994...Won the 1994 Founders Cup Award, given by Golf Digest...Received the 1996 Sports Illustrated for Kids Good Sports Award for her involvement with the Deb Richard Foundation, which she founded in 1995 to award college scholarships to physically challenged children... Honored with the 1996 Samaritan Award in recognition of her work with the Deb Richard Foundation…In 2003 and 2004, endowed the Deb Richard Foundation Scholarship Program at the University of Florida to help physically challenged children reach their potential through education...Is a member of the LPGA Executive Committee for the 2004- 06 seasons, serving as vice president in 2005...Received the 2004 Distinguished Alumnus Award from the University of Florida.

Career
• In 2003, posted two top-15 finishes: a tie for 11th at the ShopRite LPGA Classic and 15th at the Sybase Big Apple Classic Presented by Lincoln Mercury; tied her career-low round of 64 during the opening round of the Welch’s/Fry’s Championship.
• In 2002, underwent surgery in July to repair the abductor release muscle in her right leg and missed the remainder of the season.
• In 2001, best finish was a tie for 15th at the Giant Eagle LPGA Classic.
• In 2000, played a limited schedule due to tendonitis of the hip-flexor tendon.
• In 1999, tied for ninth at the Sunrise Hawaiian Ladies Open and the Philips Invitational Honoring Harvey Penick, where she tied her career-low round of 64 during the third round.
• In 1998, missed May, June and most of July following arthroscopic surgery to her left shoulder on May 13; after returning from surgery, tied for fourth at the du Maurier Classic, one of the Tour’s four majors at the time.
• In 1997, won her fifth title at the Friendly’s Classic; crossed the $2 million mark in career earnings after she tied for second place at the Chick-fil-A Charity Championship.
• In 1996, best finish was a tie for fifth at both the Youngstown-Warren LPGA Classic and JAL Big Apple Classic.
• In 1995, best finish was a tie for fourth at the Jamie Farr Toledo Classic, which she recorded after nine weeks off for back therapy; underwent scapula surgery on her back in September to correct the problem; recorded her fourth LPGA career hole-in-one at the Chick-fil-A Charity Championship.
• In 1994, won her fourth career title at the SAFECO Classic.
• In 1993, was unable to play for four weeks due to back and neck spasms; best finish was second place at the Youngstown-Warren LPGA Classic, where she lost in a sudden-death playoff to Nancy Lopez; recorded her third LPGA career hole-in-one at the JAL Big Apple Classic.
• In 1992, best finish was second at the Northgate Computer Classic; fired a career-low 64 during the second round of the Oldsmobile Classic; crossed the $1 million mark in career earnings at the Sara Lee Classic; competed on the U.S. Solheim Cup Team.
• In 1991, won the Women’s Kemper Open and the Phar-Mor in Youngstown in sudden-death playoffs against Cindy Rarick and Jane Geddes, respectively; lost to Alice Miller on the third hole of a sudden-death playoff at the Jamie Farr Toledo Classic.
• In 1990, best finish was second place at the SAFECO Classic.
• In 1989, best finish was a tie for third at the Mazda Japan Classic; recorded her second LPGA career ace during the Sara Lee Classic.
• In 1988, top finish was a tie for second at the Orient Leasing Hawaiian Ladies Open.
• In 1987, in just her second year on Tour, won her first tournament at the Rochester International.
• In 1986, her rookie season, finished second at the Boston Five Classic, where she recorded the first hole-in-one of her LPGA career; also tied for second at the Chrysler-Plymouth Classic.
• In 1985, qualified for the Tour by tying for seventh at the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament to earn exempt status for the 1986 season.

Amateur
Richard won the 1979 Kansas Junior Girls Championship, the 1979-81 Kansas Girls High School Championships and the 1982-83 Kansas Women’s Amateurs. She was the 1984 U.S. Women’s Amateur champion and captured the low individual honors in the World Cup Championship in Hong Kong. At the University of Florida, Richard won seven tournaments and was the runner-up at the 1985 NCAA Championship. She received the Broderick Award as the outstanding female collegiate golfer in 1985. She was named an NCAA All-American from 1983-85. She qualified for the U.S. Women’s Open from 1982-84 as an amateur and was low amateur at the 1985 Nabisco Dinah Shore.