Pennsylvania native, renowned amateur Jay Sigel dies at 81
By Josh Rowntree, Director of Communications • April 22, 2025
One of the most accomplished amateur golfers and a Pennsylvania native, Jay Sigel died on April 19 at the age of 81 following a battle with pancreatic cancer.
“The WPGA extends its deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Jay Sigel,” says WPGA Executive Director Terry Teasdale. “Jay was among the finest amateur golfers this country has ever known, and his impact on the game in Pennsylvania was beyond exceptional.”
Sigel, originally from Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania — a suburb west of Philadelphia — won a remarkable 11 Pennsylvania Golf Association Amateur Championships, four Pennsylvania Golf Association Open titles and was a two-time Junior Champion in the Association, as well.
He additionally put together a strong career in USGA competitions, winning the 1982 and 1983 U.S. Amateur Championships. Sigel also claimed victories in the 1983, 1985 and 1987 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championships.
A two-time captain of the Walker Cup team, Sigel won nine times in the event between 1977 and 1993. He also took home the 1979 British Amateur Championship.
Of his 11 Pennsylvania Amateur Championships won, five occurred in Western Pennsylvania — two at Oakmont Country Club and one each at Allegheny Country Club, Sewickley Heights Golf Club and Westmoreland Country Club. His 1961 win in the Pennsylvania Golf Junior Championship occurred at Longue Vue Club, as well.
Sigel also conquered the field in the prestigious Sunnehanna Amateur Championship on three occasions, winning the Johnstown, Pennsylvania competition in 1976, 1978 and 1988.
Regionally, Sigel was a 19-time winner in the Golf Association of Philadelphia, including six triumphs in the GAP Open Championship and two more in the GAP Amateur Championship.
At the highest level, Sigel played in the Masters Tournament 11 times, finishing as the competition’s Low Amateur in 1980, 1981 and 1988. He played in the U.S. Open five times — including at Oakmont Country Club in 1983 — and was Low Amateur in 1984. Sigel was The Open Championship’s Low Amateur in 1980 at Muirfield and also played in the event in 1984.
His best finish in a major championship came in 1980, when he placed 26th overall at the Masters.
Sigel turned professional in 1993 at the age of 50 and competed on the Senior PGA Tour (Champions Tour). He was named the 1994 Rookie of the Year and ended up winning eight times on the Champions Tour, with his last coming in 2003. Sigel made over $9 million as a senior professional golfer.
In 1980, Sigel was named the recipient of the USGA’s Bob Jones Award, the highest honor for sportsmanship in golf and a fitting recognition for the man considered to be America’s best amateur since Jones.
Sigel, whose parents were both accomplished golfers, played collegiately for a semester at Houston before transferring to Wake Forest, as he played on the Arnold Palmer Scholarship.
Following school, Sigel had planned to turn professional, but was seriously injured by a broken glass door, severing tendons and the ulnar nerve in his arm, limiting feeling in his hands. Instead of a professional golf career, Sigel began a successful career in insurance and worked in the industry for over 30 years.
He went on to sit on the Corporate Advisory Board for the American Cancer Society, was the president of the Greater Philadelphia Scholastic Golf Association and the First Tee of Philadelphia chapter. He hosted the annual Sigel Charity Invitational at Aronomink Golf Club, raising over $5 million for cancer research.
Sigel is survived by his wife of 57 years, Betty, their three daughters and six grandchildren.
For any media inquiries, please contact WPGA Director of Communications Josh Rowntree.
About the WPGA
Founded in 1899, the Western Pennsylvania Golf Association is the steward of amateur golf in the region. Started by five Member Clubs, the association now has nearly 200 Member Clubs and nearly 37,000 members. The WPGA conducts 14 individual competitions and 10 team events, and administers the WPGA Scholarship Fund and Western Pennsylvania Golf Hall of Fame.