Jay Sigel, three-time Northeast Amateur Champion, dies at 81
By Joe McDonald
RIGA Senior Writer
Jay Sigel, who built one of the greatest all-time amateur careers, died April 19 from pancreatic cancer. He was 81.
Sigel, of Berwyn, Pa., won the Northeast Amateur Championship three times (1984, 1985, 1991) in an eight-year span at Wannamoisett Country Club. He also played on nine Walker Cup teams. In fact, he played in the tournament 16 times. He was a two-time U.S. Amateur Champion, British Amateur, and U.S. Mid-Amateur winner. He turned pro at age 50 and joined the Senior PGA Tour in 1994.
"I'm not saying Jay was better than Bobby Jones, but from an amateur golf point of view, Bobby Jones played in two amateur tournaments in his life – the U.S. Amateur and the British Amateur. There were no Northeast Amateurs, or Porter Cups, or Mid-Amateurs, or any of that stuff," said Wannamoisett's Bill Lunnie, who was a close friend. "There's nobody even close to (Sigel). Can you believe he played in nine Walker Cups? Nobody will ever come close to that. In fact, you'd be hard-pressed to find kids to play in it twice. And he was the playing captain in two of them."
During an interview in 2023, Sigel said he always felt at home when playing in the Northeast Amateur.
"Somebody once asked, 'What's the best shot you ever hit?' I'm not sure I hit it yet. That's a little corny, but now that I'm in the latter part of my career, and old as mud, I can enjoy doing things like this," he said of his speaking engagement during the Northeast Amateur that summer. "If the Northeast Amateur – and Wannamoisett – was The Masters of amateur golf then I won The Masters. That was very important to me. It was important that nobody else had ever done it three times, and of equal importance was the number of folks I became very close to and we've had so many laughs you can't count them all."
Sigel was known as a true amateur and brought his entire family to Rumford when he played in the Northeast Amateur. The first time he played at the Northeast Amateur he stayed at Jack and Carol Connolly's house, which is right next to the 18th green at Wannamoisett. Sigel was in contention and entered the final round on Sunday near the top of the leaderboard. Naturally, his nerves kicked in and needed to use the bathroom before he took the 75-yard walk to the first tee.
"It overflowed," Sigel said with a laugh. "Here comes Carol and she says, 'Jake, I told we should've had this fix before Jay arrived.' It was priceless words. So, now I'm on my hands and knees, cleaning up the area, and I can't remember how I finished in the tournament, but it was hysterical."
Lunnie intervened during the interview and added a story about years later when Sigel played on the Senior PGA Tour. The Connollys would invite the group to stay at one of their condos in Florida.
"There was a plunger in the condo and Jay autographed it and gave it to them," Lunnie said with a laugh.
Sigel then glanced at a scrapbook of articles on the table in front of him during this interview in 2023. It was loaded with stories from legendary Providence Journal golf writer Paul Kenyon. Sigel asked about "PK" and wanted to call him. The phone was put on speaker as Sigel, Kenyon and Lunnie connected for the first time in years. As the call was about to end, Sigel told Kenyon: "You're a class act and golf misses you."
There was a brief pause when the call ended before Sigel and Lunnie both smiled.
"It brought back a lot of memories," Sigel said. "He was special. He was the class of sportswriters during that era. It's nice to remember him and call him a friend."
Sigel picked up one of Kenyon's articles. It was about the 1991 Northeast Amateur.
Sigel, then-47, was in stealth mode in the first two rounds, shooting 72, 70, respectively. He then announced his presence with authority in the third round, posting a two-under 67 to gain a two-shot lead entering the final round. He shot a final round 71 to finish 280 in the four-day event en route to victory. Tom Scherrer and Chris Smith finished tied for second at 282.
"I was not having a good year," Sigel said. "I was under pressure to make the Walker Cup team and this event, in my opinion was No. 1, other than the U.S. Amateur for making the team. Fortunately, the Northeast Amateur was in June, and I had until August to make the team, but it took a lot of pressure off my back."
Sigel last played the Northeast Amateur in 1993, so he couldn't wait to drive around the property that warm and sunny afternoon day with Lunnie to examine and critique the $4 million renovation project at Wannamoisett.
It didn't take long for Sigel to appreciate all the changes that have been made since he last played the course "more than a few years ago." He really likes the redesign of the bunkers, and especially the restoration of the Donald Ross greens.
"I think the renovations are fabulous," Sigel said. "I've always thought this golf course was one of the very best. We were always very lucky to play here and we shouldn't forget how fortunate we are and now it's even better."
At one point, Sigel and Lunnie stood on the 16th tee box when a young golfer approached. It was two-time defending Northeast Amateur champion Dylan Menante. He was focused. He stuck his tee in the ground, placed the ball on top, stepped away, addressed the ball again, crushed his drive, spun his club and walked away. Sigel was impressed and quickly realized the young man is the one attempting to three-peat, matching Sigel's record.
"I think it's great; more power to him," Sigel said. "Typically, the golf course wins here, but I know it'll be a good tournament and I hope the best man wins."
Menante did not win, and Sigel still holds the record.
He was a true gentleman of the game.
