Jay Sigel at the 2003 PGA High Championship at the Golf Club’s arony in Newtown Square, Pa.
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Jay Sigel, one of Golf’s biggest amateurs, died of pancreatic cancer on Saturday, The Usga announced. He was 81 years old.
Is widely considered one of the best amateurs since Bobby JonesSigel won two US amateur championships, three mid -lid titles of SH.BA in two of those Walker Gota – 1983 and 1985, both won – he was a captain playing.
Only the UK and Joseph B. Carr of Ireland played in more Walker Cups (10) than Sigel, though Sigel still holds the record for most victories (18) in the amateur competition of two -year men. Sigel also holds the Walker Cup record for matches played (33) and owned an 18-10-5 career playing record.
Sigel was born at Bryn Mawr, without., In 1943, he attended the University of Houston for a semester and later moved to Wake Forest, where he played on Arnold Palmer Stock Exchange.
He planned to return professional, but after an accident during his sophisticated college year – his left hand passed through a panel window at a shaky door, looking for 70 stitches – he decided to remain amateur and enter the insurance industry.
He won his first American amateur in 1982 in 38, and he defended his title next year, and also added a medium title. Sigel also won the amateur Pennsylvania 11 times. He competed in Masters 11 times, receiving honors with low amateurs three times.
Sigel got a taste of some Pro Golf. He joined the PGA Tour Champions when he was 50 years old, was named Rookie of Year and continued to win eight times from 1994 to 2003.
In 1984, Sigel received the Bob Jones award, the highest honor of the USA.
“He was a loving friend and someone we will remember forever, and we will get a lot of inspiration from,” said Kevin Hammer, USA’s elected president, in a statement. “The best amateur since Bobby Jones hands down … His heritage extends beyond his game credentials, which are extraordinary.”
