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 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 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 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.
Awards and honors
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) Regular career wins (18) 1968 Kentucky Open 1970 Tennessee Open 1971 Tennessee PGA Championship 1974 Kentucky PGA Championship 1975 Kentucky Open 1976 Kentucky Open 1979 Kentucky PGA Championship 1980 Kentucky PGA Championship 1981 PGA Club Professional Championship, Kentucky PGA Championship 1982 PGA Club Professional Championship, Kentucky PGA Championship 1984 Kentucky PGA Championship, Kentucky PGA Match Play Championship 1985 Kentucky PGA Championship 1986 Kentucky PGA Match Play Championship 1990 Kentucky PGA Championship 1991 PGA Club Professional Championship
Senior PGA Tour wins (3) Legend Senior PGA Tour major championships (1) Other Senior PGA Tour (2) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up1Apr 24, 1994Dallas Reunion Pro-Am−8 (67-68-67=202)1 stroke George Archer, Rocky Thompson2Oct 2, 1994Vantage Championship−18 (66-66-66=198)1 stroke Raymond Floyd3Jul 13, 1997Ford Senior Players Championship−14 (67-68-72-67=274)3 strokes Isao Aoki, Bob Dickson, Jack Kiefer, Dave Stockton
Senior PGA Tour playoff record (0–1) No.YearTournamentOpponentsResult11997Home Depot Invitational Jim Dent, Lee TrevinoDent won with birdie on second extra holeGilbert eliminated by birdie on first hole
Champions Tour major championships
Wins (1) YearChampionshipWinning scoreMarginRunners-up 1997 Ford Senior Players Championship −14 (67-68-72-67=274) 3 strokes Isao Aoki, Bob Dickson, Jack Kiefer, Dave Stockton
U.S. national team appearances PGA Cup: 1976 (winners), 1977 (tie), 1981 (tie), 1982 (winners), 1983, 1992 (winners)
References
External links