Patti Rizzo

Patti Rizzo
Personal information
Full name	Patrice M. Rizzo
Born	(1960-06-19) June 19, 1960 (age 65) Hollywood, Florida, U.S.
Height	5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Sporting nationality	United States
Career
College	University of Miami
Status	Professional
Former tour(s)	LPGA Tour (1982–1999)
Professional wins	15
Number of wins by tour
LPGA Tour	4
LPGA of Japan Tour	9
Other	2
Best results in LPGA major championships
Chevron Championship	T8: 1986
Women's PGA C'ship	4th/T4: 1984, 1993
U.S. Women's Open	4th: 1983
du Maurier Classic	T8: 1986, 1990
Achievements and awards
LPGA Rookie of the Year 1982

Patrice M. "Patti" Rizzo (born June 19, 1960) is an American professional golfer and golf instructor.

Amateur career

Rizzo was born in Hollywood, Florida. A collegiate All-American at the University of Miami, among her significant victories as an amateur were the Eastern Women's Amateur and Mexican Amateur in 1980, a year when she was also runner-up to Juli Inkster at the U.S. Women's Amateur and individual winner when the U.S. team won the 1980 Espirito Santo Trophy. Her performance in the 1980 season resulted in Golf Digest ranking her the No.1 female amateur in the U.S. The following year her wins included the North and South Women's Amateur at Pinehurst and she earned medalist honors at the 1981 U.S. Women's Amateur. Golf Magazine ranked her the No. 1 collegiate player for 1981.

Professional career

In 1982, Rizzo joined the LPGA Tour where she earned Rookie of the Year honors. She played on the Tour regularly for 10 years during which time she won four tournaments.

Growing disenchanted with pro golf, Rizzo quit the LPGA in 1991. After not playing any golf at all for several months, Rizzo accepted an invitation to play in a LPGA of Japan Tour event. Rizzo won it and soon afterwards accepted a one-year exemption to play the LPGA of Japan Tour. ^[1] Rizzo won three tournaments in Japan in 1992, bringing her total victories there to nine.

Rizzo was the head coach of the Barry University women's golf program from 2004 until 2010 when she became coach at the University of Miami.

Amateur wins

• 1980 Trans-National, Eastern Amateur, Mexican Amateur, Espirito Santo Trophy (individual winner)
• 1981 North and South Women's Amateur, South Atlantic Harder Hall Invitational

Professional wins

LPGA Tour (4)

No.	Date	Tournament	Winning Score	Margin of Victory	Runner(s)-up
1	Aug 7, 1983	Boston Five Classic	−11 (66-70-73-68=277)	2 strokes	Jane Lock
2	May 26, 1985	LPGA Corning Classic	−16 (69-68-64-71=272)	1 stroke	Jane Crafter
3	May 1, 1988	Sara Lee Classic	−9 (70-70-67=207)	Playoff	Tammie Green Sherri Turner Kim Williams
4	Apr 9, 1989	Red Robin Kyocera Inamori Classic	−7 (73-67-68-69=277)	2 strokes	Martha Nause

LPGA Tour playoff record (1–0)

No.	Year	Tournament	Opponents	Result
1	1988	Sara Lee Classic	Tammie Green Sherri Turner Kim Williams	Won with birdie on fifth extra hole Green and Williams eliminated by par on first hole

LPGA of Japan Tour (9)

• 1985 (1) Daio Paper Elleair Ladies Open
• 1986 (1) Takara Invitational
• 1988 (2) Takara Invitational, Daio Paper Elleair Ladies Open
• 1989 (1) Daikin Orchid Ladies Golf Tournament
• 1991 (1) Yukijirushi Ladies Tokai Classic
• 1992 (3) Nasu Ogawa Ladies Pro Golf Tournament, Takara World Invitational, Fujitsu Ladies

Other (2)

• 1985 (1) Sun City International
• 1989 (1) Mazda Champions (with Mike Hill)

U.S. national team appearances

Amateur

• Espirito Santo Trophy: 1980 (winners)

References

1. Golfer Gives Career On Lpga A 2nd Shot

External links

• Patti Rizzo at the Legends Tour official site (also at former site )
• Patti Rizzo profile – Barry University