Larry Gilbert


Lawrence Allen Gilbert, Sr. was an American professional golfer best known for winning the 1997 Senior Players Championship, one of the major championships on the Senior PGA Tour.
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. Gilbert led Middle Tennessee State to victory in the 1965 NCAA Division II Men's Golf Championships for which Gilbert won the individual medal.
Gilbert spent most of his regular career years as a club pro in Kentucky and Tennessee. He won the PGA Club Professional Championship in 1981, 1982 and 1991. He also won ten Kentucky PGA Championships, three Kentucky Opens, one Tennessee Open and one Tennessee PGA Championship. Gilbert was inducted into the Kentucky Golf Hall of Fame in 1992; he is also a member of the Middle Tennessee State University Athletics Hall of Fame. He joined the Senior PGA Tour upon turning 50 in 1992.
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.

Professional wins (21)

Other wins (18)

No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory		Runner-up
1Apr 24, 1994Dallas Reunion Pro-Am−8 1 stroke George Archer, Rocky Thompson
2Oct 2, 1994Vantage Championship−18 1 stroke Raymond Floyd
3Jul 13, 1997Ford Senior Players Championship−14 3 strokes Isao Aoki, Bob Dickson,
Jack Kiefer, Dave Stockton

Senior PGA Tour playoff record
No.YearTournamentOpponentsResult
11997Home Depot Invitational Jim Dent, Lee TrevinoDent won with birdie on second extra hole
Gilbert eliminated with birdie on first hole

Champions Tour major championships

Wins (1)

U.S. national team appearances