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Wikipedia / Jay Sigel

Robert Jay Sigel (November 13, 1943 – April 19, 2025) was an American professional golfer. He enjoyed one of the more illustrious careers in the history of U.S. amateur golf, before turning pro in 1993 at age 50, when he became a member of the Senior PGA Tour.

Early life

Sigel was born and raised in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. He grew up playing golf at Bala Golf Club and later joined Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania. As a promising young golfer, he reached the finals of the Junior Boys' Championship of Philadelphia (GAP) in 1959 and 1960.

Sigel attended high school at Lower Merion High School in Lower Merion, Pennsylvania.

Amateur career

Sigel originally attended the University of Houston for a semester before transferring to Wake Forest University. He was a member of the golf team. In 1967, Sigel graduated with a sociology degree.

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Sigel was one of America's premier amateur golfers. He compiled victories in the U.S. Amateur, British Amateur and U.S. Mid-Amateur, competed on nine Walker Cup teams, and won numerous other amateur titles. In 1975 he was ranked the #8 amateur in the U.S. by Golf Digest and the following year advanced to #4.

In 1983, he became the only golfer ever to win the U.S. Amateur and U.S. Mid-Amateur in the same year, which made him only the third golfer to win two USGA individual titles in the same year. He was also runner-up in the Canadian Amateur Championship that year. Although he remained an amateur he did occasionally compete in professional events on the PGA Tour. His best finish was tied 18th at the 1979 IVB-Philadelphia Golf Classic. He was the low amateur in the 1980 Open Championship, the 1984 U.S. Open, and the Masters Tournament in 1980, 1981, and 1988.

Sigel was considering a professional golf career while in college, but injured his arm in an accident. He decided on a career in insurance, while competing in high-level amateur golf. Sigel developed his own successful insurance business in the Philadelphia area for over 30 years. He sold the business to Century Business Services, where he was a senior vice president. He was a Chartered Life Underwriter, Chartered Financial Consultant and a qualifying life member of the Million Dollar Round Table. He also sat on the Corporate Advisory Board for the American Cancer Society, and was the president of the Greater Philadelphia Scholastic Golf Association and the First Tee of Philadelphia chapter. He hosted the Annual Jay Sigel Invitational Golf Tournament at his home course, Aronimink Golf Club. The proceeds from this tournament benefit prostate cancer research at the University of Pennsylvania.

Professional career

Sigel turned professional when he reached the age of 50. He joined the Senior PGA Tour in 1994 and won Rookie of the Year honors, when he earned 14 top-10 finishes and secured his first victory at the GTE West Classic. For the next five seasons, he finished in the top-31 on the Senior Tour money list. He won eight events; the last was the 2003 Bayer Advantage Celebrity Pro-Am. In the 2004 Champions Tour season, Sigel finished in the money in all 28 tournaments that he entered and had six top-10 finishes. During the 2005 campaign his best finish was 5th at the Turtle Bay Championship. He has career earnings of over $9 million. Since joining the Champions Tour in 1994, Sigel has been sponsored by Global Management Consulting and technology services company Accenture.

Personal life and death

Sigel was married to Betty. They had three daughters. He resided in Berwyn, Pennsylvania.

Sigel died from pancreatic cancer in Boca Raton, Florida, on April 19, 2025, at the age of 81.

Awards and honors

Amateur wins

this list may be incomplete

Professional wins

Regular career wins (10)

this list may be incomplete

  • 1974 Pennsylvania Open Championship

  • 1975 Philadelphia Open Championship

  • 1977 Philadelphia Open Championship

  • 1978 Philadelphia Open Championship, Pennsylvania Open Championship

  • 1980 Philadelphia Open Championship

  • 1983 Pennsylvania Open Championship

  • 1986 Philadelphia Open Championship

  • 1987 Philadelphia Open Championship

  • 1990 Pennsylvania Open Championship

Note: all as an amateur

Champions Tour wins (8)

Champions Tour playoff record (2–2)

Other senior wins (2)

Results in major championships

Note: Sigel never played in the PGA Championship LA = Low amateur CUT = missed the half-way cut "T" = tied

U.S. national team appearances

Amateur

See also

References