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 (born May 9, 1939 – died May 2, 2025) was a professional golfer from the United States. People called him "Big Boy" because he was tall and could hit the golf ball very far. He played golf professionally for almost 50 years. He competed on both the PGA Tour and the PGA Tour Champions. During his time on the PGA Tour, he won four unofficial tournaments. Later, on the PGA Champions Tour, he won 12 tournaments.
Contents
About Jim Dent's Golf Journey
Early Life and Golf Start
Jim Dent was born in Augusta, Georgia. This city is famous for golf because it hosts the Masters Tournament. When Jim was young, African American people were only allowed on the Augusta National golf course as caddies. A caddie is someone who carries a golfer's clubs. Jim worked as a caddie at both Augusta National and Augusta Country Club. He also went to Paine College, a historically black college in Augusta.
Becoming a Pro Golfer
Jim Dent became a professional golfer in 1966. Before he turned 50, he won the Florida PGA Championship three times. But he became most famous for his success on the Senior PGA Tour, which is now called the Champions Tour. On this tour, he won 12 tournaments between 1989 and 1998.
Jim was well-known for how far he could hit the golf ball. In 1974, he was the very first winner of the World Long Drive Championship. He won this title again in 1975. Jim Dent passed away on May 2, 2025, when he was 85 years old.
Family Life
Jim Dent had two children, Radiah and James Antonio, from his first marriage. Later, he and his second wife, Willye Malveaux Dent, adopted five more children. This made their family even bigger!
Awards and Recognition
Jim Dent was honored for his amazing golf career. He was inducted into several Halls of Fame, including:
- The African American Golfers Hall of Fame
- The Caddie Hall of Fame
- The Georgia Golf Hall of Fame
- The Georgia Sports Hall of Fame
- The National Black Golf Hall of Fame
- The Paine College Sports Hall of Fame
His Golf Wins
Jim Dent won a total of 16 professional golf tournaments.
- He won 1 tournament in the Tournament Players Series.
- He won 3 "Other wins," which included the Florida PGA Championship three times.
- He won 12 tournaments on the Senior PGA Tour (now Champions Tour).
See also
- 1970 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates
- 1985 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates
- List of golfers with most Champions Tour wins
