Nine time Walker Cupper Jay Sigel passes away at 81
20 Apr 2025
by Justin Golba of AmateurGolf.com
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Jay Sigel (Jay Sigel Invitational Photo)
Jay Sigel, a nine-time Walker Cupper, died at the age of 81 on Saturday, April 19th, after a battle with Pancreatic Cancer, the USGA confirmed.
Sigel was an incredibly accomplished amateur golfer. At the ages of 38 and 39, he secured consecutive U.S. Amateur titles in 1982 and 83. Only three other mid-amateur (25 and older) golfers have won the U.S. Amateur since 1980.
Along with his U.S. Amateur titles, Sigel captured three U.S. Mid-Amateur Championships and competed on a record nine USA Walker Cup Teams, serving as playing captain in two of those appearances in 1983 and 1985, both USA victories.
Only Great Britain and Ireland’s Joseph B. Carr (10) competed in more Walker Cups, and no one compiled more victories in the biennial competition than Sigel (18). He also owns the Walker Cup mark for most matches played with 33, compiling an overall record of 18-10-5 in singles and foursomes.
Outside of his national championships, Sigel won the Porter Cup, Northeast Amateur, and Sunnehanna Amateur three times each and the Pennsylvania Open four times.
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Sigel later joined the Senior Tour, which is now PGA Tour Champions, after turning 50, posting eight wins, including the 1996 Energizer Senior Tour Championship. But his distinguished amateur career established Sigel as one of golf’s greatest champions.
Sigel was born and raised in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. He played golf at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, PA. He attended Lower Merion High School in Lower Merion, PA, and then went to Wake Forest University.
He graduated from Wake Forest University in 1967. In Winston-Salem, NC, he won an ACC championship, was inducted into the Hall of Fame, and became a two-time All-American. He made such an impact that Wake Forest now has a scholarship in Jay's name.