Bio

5’4”…Lists Sherry Wilder, Rena and Phil Ritson, the late Ellen Griffin and Mike Castellucci as the teachers most influencing her career…A professional travel agent who would like to combine her golf experience with her travel expertise to organize world-wide tours, Austin has also attended real estate school (1982) and bartender’s school (1983)…Has also taken several computer classes…Attended Rollins College…Was Golf Digest’s 1977 Most Improved Golfer and Golf Magazine’s 1977 Player-of-the-Year…Was a member of the LPGA Player Council in 1982 and 1983...A Player Director in 1985 and ‘86.

Career
Austin participated in a limited schedule in 1987 due to her pursuance of other career interests in the travel industry. Austin has been a member of the LPGA Tour for 20 years and is on the top-30 all-time money list. Her most successful season was 1977 when she broke into the winners’ circle by capturing five titles; Birmingham Classic, Hoosier Classic, Pocono Classic, Long Island Charity Classic and the Wheeling Classic. Those victories led Austin to her most successful financial season with $86,392 in earnings, exceeding her previous three years combined. A recurring tendonitis problem plagued her during 1979 and 1980, but she returned to winning form in 1981 by winning the Mayflower Classic. With that victory, she established the tradition of the winner taking a plunge into the pool with General Chairman John B. Smith. Austin’s tendonitis continued to bother her and, as a result, she underwent surgery late in 1982 and was out for a portion of the 1983 season. In 1984, Austin registered two top-10 finishes. Austin’s 1985 season started on a positive note as she carded her first-ever hole-in-one at the Elizabeth Arden Classic.

Amateur
At age 16, Austin reached the finals of the New York Amateur. She moved to Florida and won the state high school championship by 10 shots in 1965.