Debbie Austin

{{short description|American professional golfer (born 1948)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}} {{Infobox golfer | name = Debbie Austin | image = | imagesize =  | caption = | fullname = | nickname = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1948|2|1}} | birth_place = Oneida, New York, U.S. | death_date =  | death_place = | height = {{height|ft=5|in=4}} | weight = | nationality = {{USA}} | residence = Orlando, Florida, U.S. | spouse = | partner = | children = | college = Rollins College | status = Professional | yearpro =  | tour =  | extour = LPGA Tour (1968–1987) | prowins = 8 | lpgawins = 7 | alpgwins =  | otherwins = 1 | majorwins =  | titleholders = T17: 1972 | nabisco = T38: 1984 | lpga = 7th: 1973 | wusopen = 8th: 1975 | dumaurier = T17: 1981 | wghofid =  | wghofyear =  | award1 =  | year1 =  | award2 = | year2 = | awardssection =  }} '''Debbie Austin''' (born February 1, 1948) is an American professional golfer.

== Career == Austin was born in Oneida, New York in 1948. She first played on the LPGA Tour in 1968 and went on to win seven tournaments, including five in 1977 when she tied with Judy Rankin for most on tour. She was named Player of the Year in 1977 by ''Golf Magazine''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lpga.com/players/debbie-austin/80112/bio |title=Debbie Austin bio |publisher=LPGA |access-date=July 2, 2017}}</ref>

She won the Wills Qantas Australian Ladies Open in 1978. 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.

She has held a variety of positions since the end of her tour career, including a stint as a coach for the Rollins College ladies' golf team in Winter Park, Florida. She spent several years associated with Westchester Country Club in New York. She resides in Orlando, Florida and is the former head coach of the Bishop Moore Catholic High School girls' golf team. She is now retired but plays regularly at her home course, Orange Tree Golf Club.

The junior tees at Westchester Country Club are named after her.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://golf.lohudblogs.com/2012/09/05/debbie-austin-fits-wcc-honor-to-a-tee/ |title=Debbie Austin fits WCC honor to a tee |publisher=Lohud Golf Blog |date=September 5, 2012}}{{Dead link|date=November 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>

==Professional wins (8)== ===LPGA Tour wins (7)=== {| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;" !No.!!Date!!Tournament!!Winning score!!Margin of victory!!Runner(s)-up |- |1 |May 1, 1977 |Birmingham Classic |−9 (68-69-70=207) |1 stroke |{{flagicon|USA}} Debbie Massey |- |2 |Jun 26, 1977 |Hoosier Classic |−9 (70-70-67=207) |2 strokes |{{flagicon|USA}} Judy Rankin {{flagicon|AUS}} Jan Stephenson |- |3 |Jul 31, 1977 |Pocono Northeast Classic |−6 (71-73-69=213) |1 stroke |{{flagicon|CAN}} Sandra Post |- |4 |Aug 14, 1977 |Long Island Charity Classic |−9 (73-69-66-71=279) |2 stroke |{{flagicon|USA}} Nancy Lopez {{flagicon|USA}} Kathy Whitworth |- |5 |Aug 21, 1977 |Wheeling Classic |−7 (67-72-70=209) |1 stroke |{{flagicon|USA}} Hollis Stacy |- |6 |Feb 12, 1978 |American Cancer Society Classic |−4 (68-72-72=212) |1 stroke |{{flagicon|USA}} Beth Solomon {{flagicon|JPN}} Nayoko Yoshikawa |- |7 |Jul 12, 1981 |Mayflower Classic |−9 (68-69-68-74=279) |4 strokes |{{flagicon|USA}} Myra Blackwelder {{flagicon|USA}} Hollis Stacy |}

===Other wins (1)=== *1978 Wills Qantas Australian Ladies Open

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *{{LPGA player|debbie-austin/80112}} *{{Legends Tour player|old_id=79}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Austin, Debbie}} Category:American female golfers Category:Rollins Tars women's golfers Category:LPGA Tour golfers Category:College golf coaches in Florida Category:Golfers from New York (state) Category:Golfers from Orlando, Florida Category:People from Oneida, New York Category:1948 births Category:Living people Category:20th-century American sportswomen