Gibby Gilbert

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Wikipedia

Gibby Gilbert
Personal information
Full nameC. L. Gilbert II
NicknameGibby
Born (1941-01-14) January 14, 1941 (age 84)
Chattanooga, Tennessee, U.S.
Height5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight190 lb (86 kg; 14 st)
Sporting nationality United States
Career
CollegeUniversity of Chattanooga
Turned professional1965
Current tourChampions Tour
Former tourPGA Tour
Professional wins20
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour3
PGA Tour Champions6
Other11
Best results in major championships
Masters TournamentT2: 1980
PGA ChampionshipT5: 1979
U.S. OpenT39: 1968
The Open ChampionshipDNP

C. L. "Gibby" Gilbert II[1] (born January 14, 1941) is an American professional golfer. He played on the PGA Tour and Champions Tour.

Early life and amateur career

In 1941, Gilbert was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee.[2] The initials C. L. do not stand for anything.[1] Gilbert's father started him in golf at the age of 13. He is a 1959 graduate of Chattanooga Central High School.[3] Gilbert also attended the University of Chattanooga.

Professional career

In 1965, Gilbert turned professional.[4] In 1966, he took a job at Hillcrest Country Club in Hollywood, Florida.

Gilbert had success at 1967 PGA Tour Qualifying School.[2] However, Gilbert played on the PGA Tour for three years during the 1960s but did not have much success. In late 1969, he returned to Hillcrest CC, permanently now as assistant professional.[5]

In the early 1970s, Gilbert returned to the PGA Tour. He had dozens of top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour and three victories. His first win came at the 1970 Houston Champions International, his second win was at the 1976 Danny Thomas Memphis Classic, and his third win was at the 1977 Walt Disney World National Team Championship.[6]

Gilbert's best finish at a major was a T-2 at the 1980 Masters, when he and Jack Newton finished four strokes behind the champion, Seve Ballesteros.[7]

Gilbert was active on the Champions Tour, winning six times.[6]

Gilbert has had a lifelong interest in helping young people develop their golf skills. Since 1973, he has made annual appearances for the Tennessee PGA's Junior Golf Academy at Fall Creek Falls.[2]

Personal life

Gilbert lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee.[2] He is married to Judy.[2] Gilbert's son, Gibby III, is a professional golfer.

Awards and honors

  • In 1992, Gilbert was inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame.[2]
  • In 1995, he was also inducted into the Tennessee Golf Hall of Fame.[2]

Professional wins (20)

PGA Tour wins (3)

No. Date Tournament Winning score Margin of
victory		 Runner(s)-up
1 May 10, 1970 Houston Champions International −2 (69-72-71-70=282) Playoff Australia Bruce Crampton
2 May 23, 1976 Danny Thomas Memphis Classic −15 (68-67-66-72=273) 4 strokes United States Forrest Fezler, New Zealand John Lister,
United States Gil Morgan
3 Nov 6, 1977 Walt Disney World National Team Championship
(with United States Grier Jones)		 −35 (62-64-61-66=253) 1 stroke United States Steve Melnyk and United States Andy North

PGA Tour playoff record (1–0)

No.YearTournamentOpponentResult
1 1970 Houston Champions International Australia Bruce Crampton Won with par on third extra hole

Source:[8]

Other wins (9)

Senior PGA Tour wins (6)

No. Date Tournament Winning score Margin of
victory		 Runner(s)-up
1 Jun 28, 1992 Southwestern Bell Classic −17 (62-65-66=193) 9 strokes United States Jim Colbert
2 Jul 5, 1992 Kroger Senior Classic −15 (66-64-68=198) Playoff United States J. C. Snead
3 Sep 6, 1992 First of America Classic −11 (69-65-68=202) 1 stroke United States Tommy Aaron, United States Dick Hendrickson,
South Africa Harold Henning, United States Dave Stockton
4 May 2, 1993 Fairfield Barnett Classic −12 (70-63-71=204) 1 stroke United States Mike Hill
5 Sep 8, 1996 Boone Valley Classic −10 (68-66-69=203) Playoff United States Hale Irwin
6 Feb 2 1997 Royal Caribbean Classic −11 (70-66-66=202) 4 strokes Australia David Graham

Senior PGA Tour playoff record (2–1)

No.YearTournamentOpponentResult
1 1991 First of America Classic South Africa Harold Henning Lost to birdie on first extra hole
2 1992 Kroger Senior Classic United States J. C. Snead Won with par on second extra hole
3 1996 Boone Valley Classic United States Hale Irwin Won with par on first extra hole

Source:[8]

Other senior wins (2)

Results in major championships

Tournament 1968 1969
Masters Tournament
U.S. Open T39
PGA Championship
Tournament 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979
Masters Tournament 45 T38 CUT
U.S. Open T47 CUT T45
PGA Championship T55 T6 CUT T18 T39 T17 T34 CUT T5
Tournament 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988
Masters Tournament T2 T28
U.S. Open CUT
PGA Championship T68 CUT T54 T47 CUT 65

Note: Gilbert never played in The Open Championship.

  Top 10
  Did not play

CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place

Summary

TournamentWins2nd3rdTop-5Top-10Top-25EventsCuts made
Masters Tournament01011154
U.S. Open00000053
The Open Championship00000000
PGA Championship0001241511
Totals0102352518
  • Most consecutive cuts made – 6 (1968 U.S. Open – 1972 U.S. Open)
  • Longest streak of top-10s – 2 (1979 PGA – 1980 Masters)

U.S. national team appearances

See also

References

  1. 1 2 LeNoir, Bob (December 1, 1978). "'Man with no name' keeps popping up". St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg, Florida. p. 3C. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "C.L. "Gibby" Gilbert biography". Golf House Tennessee. Retrieved May 20, 2011.
  3. ↑ https://centralhistory.files.wordpress.com/2020/04/1959imp.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  4. ↑ "Profile on PGA Tour's official site". Archived from the original on May 25, 2011. Retrieved May 20, 2011.
  5. ↑ "Golf". Fort Lauderdale News. September 23, 1969. p. 45. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
  6. 1 2 "Biographical information on PGA Tour's official site". Archived from the original on October 14, 2012. Retrieved May 20, 2011.
  7. ↑ "Golf Major Championships". Retrieved May 21, 2011.
  8. 1 2 "Gibby Gilbert". PGA Tour. Retrieved November 9, 2025.