Jim Dent facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jim Dent |
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|---|---|
| Personal information | |
| Full name | James Lacey Dent |
| Born | May 9, 1939 Augusta, Georgia, U.S |
| Died | May 2, 2025 (aged 85) Augusta, Georgia, U.S. |
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Weight | 224 lb (102 kg; 16.0 st) |
| Nationality |  United States |
| Spouse | Willye Malveaux Dent |
| Children | 7 |
| Career | |
| College | Paine College |
| Turned professional | 1966 |
| Current tour(s) | Champions Tour |
| Former tour(s) | PGA Tour |
| Professional wins | 16 |
| Number of wins by tour | |
| Champions Tour | 12 |
| Other | 4 |
| Best results in Major Championships |
|
| The Masters Tournament | DNP |
| U.S. Open | T36: 1979 |
| The Open Championship | DNP |
| PGA Championship | T34: 1978 |
James Lacey Dent (May 9, 1939 – May 2, 2025) was an American professional golfer. Dent, who was nicknamed “Big Boy” because of his size and long drives, played professionally for nearly 50 years on the PGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions. During his PGA Tour career, he won four unofficial tournaments and approximately a half-million dollars. On the PGA Champions Tour, he won 12 tournaments and more than $9 million.
Contents
Biography
Dent was born in the golf mecca of Augusta, Georgia, home of the Masters Tournament, though as a black youth he would've only been allowed on the Augusta National course as a caddie at the time. Dent caddied at both Augusta National and Augusta Country Club as a youth and attended Augusta's historically black Paine College.
Dent turned professional in 1966. During his regular (under-50) career he was Florida PGA Champion three times. However he is mainly notable for his success on the Senior PGA Tour (now Champions Tour), where he won 12 tournaments between 1989 and 1998. Known for his driving ability, Dent was in 1974 the inaugural winner of the World Long Drive Championship and would go on to retain the title in 1975.
Dent died May 2, 2025, at the age of 85.
Personal
Dent had two children, Radiah and James Antonio, from his first marriage. Dent and his second wife, Willye Malveaux Dent, adopted five children.
Awards and honors
Dent has been inducted into the African American Golfers Hall of Fame, Caddie Hall of Fame, Georgia Golf Hall of Fame, Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, National Black Golf Hall of Fame, and Paine College Sports Hall of Fame.
Professional wins (16)
Tournament Players Series wins (1)
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory |
Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | May 15, 1983 | Michelob-Chattanooga Gold Cup Classic | −12 (67-69-70-66=272) | 1 stroke |  Lance Ten Broeck |
Other wins (3)
- 1976 Florida PGA Championship
- 1977 Florida PGA Championship
- 1978 Florida PGA Championship
Senior PGA Tour wins (12)
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory |
Runner(s)-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jun 25, 1989 | MONY Syracuse Senior Classic | −15 (69-68-64=201) | 1 stroke | Al Geiberger |
| 2 | Jul 30, 1989 | Newport Cup | −10 (67-73-66=206) | 1 stroke |  Harold Henning |
| 3 | Mar 18, 1990 | Vantage at The Dominion | −11 (69-70-66=205) | 3 strokes | Harold Henning |
| 4 | Jun 17, 1990 | MONY Syracuse Senior Classic (2) | −17 (66-67-66=199) | 1 stroke | George Archer |
| 5 | Jul 15, 1990 | Kroger Senior Classic | −9 (67-66=133)* | 1 stroke | Harold Henning |
| 6 | Sep 23, 1990 | Crestar Classic | −14 (73-64-65=202) | 1 stroke | Lee Trevino |
| 7 | Oct 26, 1992 | Newport Cup (2) | −12 (67-69-68=204) | 1 stroke | Jimmy Powell |
| 8 | Jun 5, 1994 | Bruno's Memorial Classic | −15 (66-68-67=201) | 2 strokes |  Bob Charles, Larry Gilbert, Kermit Zarley |
| 9 | Jun 11, 1995 | BellSouth Senior Classic | −13 (66-69-68=203) | 2 strokes | Bob Murphy |
| 10 | Aug 25, 1996 | Bank of Boston Senior Classic | −12 (69-68-67=204) | 1 stroke | Jay Sigel, Tom Wargo |
| 11 | May 11, 1997 | Home Depot Invitational | −8 (68-70-70=208) | Playoff | Larry Gilbert, Lee Trevino |
| 12 | May 10, 1998 | Home Depot Invitational (2) | −9 (67-68-72=207) | Playoff | Bob Charles |
*Note: The 1990 Kroger Senior Classic was shortened to 36 holes due to rain.
Senior PGA Tour playoff record (2–2)
| No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent(s) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1993 | Ralphs Senior Classic | Dale Douglass |
Lost to birdie on first extra hole |
| 2 | 1997 | Home Depot Invitational | Larry Gilbert, Lee Trevino |
Dent won with birdie on second extra hole Gilbert eliminated by birdie on first hole |
| 3 | 1998 | Home Depot Invitational | Bob Charles |
Won with par on third extra hole |
| 4 | 2000 | Vantage Championship | Gil Morgan, Larry Nelson |
Nelson won with birdie on sixth extra hole Dent eliminated by birdie on first hole |
See also
- 1970 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates
- 1985 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates
- List of golfers with most Champions Tour wins
