Larry Gilbert

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For other people named Larry Gilbert, see Larry Gilbert (disambiguation).

Larry Gilbert
Personal information
Full nameLawrence Allen Gilbert, Sr.
Born(1942-11-19)November 19, 1942
Fort Knox, Kentucky, U.S.
DiedJanuary 21, 1998(1998-01-21) (aged 55)
Lexington, Kentucky, U.S.
Sporting nationality United States
Career
CollegeMiddle Tennessee State University
StatusProfessional
Former tourChampions Tour
Professional wins21
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour Champions3
Other18
Best results in major championships
Masters TournamentDNP
PGA Championship73rd: 1983
U.S. OpenCUT: 1976, 1978, 1979
The Open ChampionshipDNP

Lawrence Allen Gilbert Sr. (November 19, 1942 – January 21, 1998) was an American professional golfer. He is best known for winning the 1997 Senior Players Championship, one of the major championships on the Senior PGA Tour.

Early life and amateur career

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In 1942, Gilbert was born in Fort Knox, Kentucky. He attended Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee and was a distinguished member of the golf team. In 1965, Gilbert led Middle Tennessee State to victory in the 1965 NCAA Division II Men's Golf Championships; Gilbert won the individual medal too.

Professional career

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Gilbert spent most of his regular career years as a club pro in Kentucky and Tennessee. He won the PGA Club Professional Championship three times: in 1981, 1982 and 1991. He also won ten Kentucky PGA Championships, three Kentucky Opens, one Tennessee Open, and one Tennessee PGA Championship.

In 1992, he joined the Senior PGA Tour upon turning 50 in 1992.

Personal life

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In 1998, Gilbert died in Lexington, Kentucky of lung cancer at the age of 55. He had started smoking cigarettes at an early age, and was often seen smoking a cigar while playing. He won the Senior Players Championship only 192 days before he died.[1]

Awards and honors

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  • In 1992, Gilbert was inducted into the Kentucky Golf Hall of Fame.
  • During his career, Gilbert was inducted into the Middle Tennessee State University Athletics Hall of Fame.

Professional wins (21)

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Regular career wins (18)

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Senior PGA Tour wins (3)

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Legend
Senior PGA Tour major championships (1)
Other Senior PGA Tour (2)
No. Date Tournament Winning score Margin of
victory 		Runner(s)-up
1 Apr 24, 1994 Dallas Reunion Pro-Am −8 (67-68-67=202) 1 stroke United States George Archer, United States Rocky Thompson
2 Oct 2, 1994 Vantage Championship −18 (66-66-66=198) 1 stroke United States Raymond Floyd
3 Jul 13, 1997 Ford Senior Players Championship −14 (67-68-72-67=274) 3 strokes Japan Isao Aoki, United States Bob Dickson,
United States Jack Kiefer, United States Dave Stockton

Senior PGA Tour playoff record (0–1)

No. Year Tournament Opponents Result
1 1997 Home Depot Invitational United States Jim Dent, United States Lee Trevino Dent won with birdie on second extra hole
Gilbert eliminated by birdie on first hole

Champions Tour major championships

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Wins (1)

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Year Championship Winning score Margin Runners-up
1997 Ford Senior Players Championship −14 (67-68-72-67=274) 3 strokes Japan Isao Aoki, United States Bob Dickson,
United States Jack Kiefer, United States Dave Stockton

U.S. national team appearances

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  • PGA Cup: 1976 (winners), 1977 (tie), 1981 (tie), 1982 (winners), 1983, 1992 (winners)

References

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  1. ^ "A Lesson from Gilbert's Death". Sports Illustrated CNNSI.com. January 28, 1998. Archived from the original on January 24, 2001.
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