Golfer Larry Gilbert Dies Of Lung Cancer

Larry Gilbert, a three-time winner on the Senior PGA Tour who was diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer last September, died early Wednesday morning in Lexington, Ky. He was 55.

Gilbert, who won the Senior Players Championship in July, was diagnosed Sept. 2 during a routine physical.

He was one of four Senior Tour members diagnosed with cancer in 1997. Arnold Palmer and Jim Colbert had prostate surgery, and Bruce Devlin had his right kidney removed. Gilbert was the only one of the four whose condition could not be treated.

“It’s a tragedy to lose a man as fine as Larry Gilbert just as he reached the pinnacle of his career,” PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem said. “Golf has lost a great individual. He was a man of real integrity and enriched our sport through his positive outlook on life and his sense of humor.”

At West Palm Beach, Fla., Pat Hurst and Meg Mallon shot matching 5-under-par 67s to share the first-round lead in the LPGA Office Depot tournament.

Sweden’s Helen Alfredsson and Peru’s Alicia Dibos were a stroke back after 68s.

Tracy Hanson of Rathdrum, Idaho, was three shots back at 70.

CBS will broadcast this year’s Masters Tournament, the first of golf’s four men’s majors, for the 43rd straight year. The tournament is scheduled for April 9-12.