Bob Gilder - Biography

Biography

Gilder was born in Corvallis, Oregon and attended Corvallis High School. He later attended Arizona State University and walked on to the golf team there, later becoming the 1973 Western Athletic Conference individual golf champion. He turned pro later that year and found success on the Tour quite rapidly, winning six tournaments between 1976 and 1983, including three in 1982. Gilder was a mainstay on the PGA Tour for many years, although he never won another tournament. He played on the 1983 Ryder Cup team.

What Gilder may be best remembered for was his final hole double eagle at the 1982 Manufacturers Hanover Westchester Classic. It took place during that tournament's third round, at the 18th hole. Gilder used a 3 wood, and his second shot travelled 230 yards before landing softly on the green and rolling into the cup, 251 yards away. A plaque on the 18th fairway commemorates the feat.

Gilder won one of the longest sudden death playoffs in PGA Tour history at the 1983 Phoenix Open. It took him eight holes to defeat Rex Caldwell, Johnny Miller, and Mark O'Meara.

In 2000, Gilder became eligible to play on the Champions Tour and found immediate success, winning two tournaments and being named Rookie of the Year in 2001.

After winning tournaments in five out of his first six years on the Champions Tour, Gilder entered a victory drought of almost five years. In the first seven individual events of the 2011 season, he placed no higher than a tie for 56th place, and had struggled to a stroke average of over 73.5 per round. However, Gilder ended his drought with a come-from-behind win in the Principal Charity Classic, a tournament he had previously won in 2002. With three birdies on his final four holes, including a birdie on the notoriously difficult 18th hole, Gilder was the victor by one shot over Champions Tour rookie Mark Brooks, who was seeking his first win on the senior circuit. This victory gave Gilder his milestone 10th victory on the Champions Tour.

Gilder was inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 2002.

Gilder is a lifelong resident of Corvallis, Oregon. He enjoys auto racing and has competed in Trans-Am races. Gilder and his wife, Peggy, have a grandson with cystic fibrosis and are involved with several charities that help battle the disease including Doernbecher Children's Hospital and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.