Jay Sigel, one of golf’s greatest amateurs, dead at 81

Jay Sigel, one of golf’s greatest amateurs, died of pancreatic cancer on Saturday, the USGA announced. He was 81.

Widely considered one of the best amateurs since Bobby Jones, Sigel won two U.S. Amateur Championships, three U.S. Mid-Amateur titles and competed on a record nine U.S. Walker Cup teams. In two of those Walker Cups — 1983 and 1985, both wins — he was a playing captain.

Only Great Britain and Ireland’s Joseph B. Carr played in more Walker Cups (10) than Sigel, although Sigel still holds the record for most victories (18) in the biennial men’s amateur competition. Sigel also holds the Walker Cup record for matches played (33) and owned a career 18-10-5 playing record.

Sigel was born in Bryn Mawr, Pa., in 1943, attended the University of Houston for one semester and later transferred to Wake Forest, where he played on the Arnold Palmer Scholarship.

He had plans to turn professional but after an accident during his sophomore year of college —  his left hand went through a pane window on a swinging door, requiring 70 stitches — he decided to remain amateur and enter the insurance industry.

He won his first U.S. Amateur in 1982 at 38, and he defended his title the next year while also adding a Mid-Am title. Sigel also won the Pennsylvania Amateur 11 times. He competed in the Masters 11 times, taking low-amateur honors three times.

Sigel did get a taste of some pro golf. He joined the PGA Tour Champions when he turned 50, was named rookie of the year and went on to win eight times from 1994 to 2003.

In 1984, Sigel received the Bob Jones Award, the USGA’s highest honor.

“He was a dear friend and somebody that we will remember forever, and take a lot of inspiration from,” Kevin Hammer, the USGA’s president-elect, said in a statement. “Best amateur since Bobby Jones hands down. … His legacy extends far beyond his playing credentials, which are extraordinary.”