Jim Dent

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, On the PGA Champions Tour, he won 12 tournaments and more than $9 million. Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, and National Black Golf Hall of Fame, among others.

Early life Dent was born in Augusta, Georgia, home of the Masters Tournament. As a teenager, he would play golf with friends on The Hill, a modest Augusta course. Paul Dent would later caddie for President Dwight Eisenhower. In addition to Rosburg, he caddied for Masters' golfers Bob Goalby, He eventually moved to California, where he met Mose "Mo" Stevens, a wealthy black businessman who became his benefactor. In 1973, he earned $30,000 on the tour.

1982 was the first PGA Tour season of the "All-Exempt Tour" which now exempted the top 125 money winners as opposed to only the top 60; Dent won $55,095 on Tour that year and easily retained exempt status for 1983.

Personal life Dent had a daughter, Charlene Dent-Wilkins, with his first wife, Evelyn Green Davis. Dent and his second wife, Willye Malveaux Dent, had a daughter born in 1973, followed by a son born in 1976. His golf career enabled him to send all of his children to college and to buy a house for his aunt Mary, who had raised him. His son, Joseph Dent, played golf at Strawberry Crest High School, and is now pursuing a professional golf career. Joseph and his twin brother, Joshua, were named "2017 Youth Golfers of the Year" by the African American Golfers Hall of Fame. His grandson, Andre Lacey II, is the head men's and women's golf coach at Paine College.

Death In 2025, Dent, who was recovering from a stroke, attended the Masters to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Lee Elder becoming the first black player to play in the tournament. In 1994, he was inducted into the Georgia Golf Hall of Fame In 2006, Dent was inducted into the African American Golfers Hall of Fame In 2009, Dent was inducted into the Paine College Sports Hall of Fame In 2013, he was inducted into the Local Legends wing at the Augusta Museum of History In 2020, the road leading to Augusta Municipal Golf Course, also known as "The Patch," was renamed "Jim Dent Way" in his honor In 2022, Dent was inducted into the Caddie Hall of Fame

Professional wins (16) Tournament Players Series wins (1)

Other wins (3) 1976 Florida PGA Championship 1977 Florida PGA Championship 1978 Florida PGA Championship

Senior PGA Tour wins (12)

Senior PGA Tour playoff record (2–2)