*Born on November 25, 1914.
*At age 16, was on Merion CCs property finding golf balls with a friend, as the club hosted the 1930
US Amateur was being played. Bobby Jones not only won it, but by doing so, he won the Grand Slam.
(US Open, US Amateur, British Open, & British Amateur)
*Attended West Point, Hobart College, and Lafayette University.
*At Lafayette was captain of both the Football & Baseball teams.
*Inducted into the Air Corps in 1943 at Stark, Florida right after being Medalist in the Dixie Amateur,
couldnt complete event.
*Met Edith Heyman in 1937 New York City and were married in Reno, Nevada
*Started playing golf at 23 in 1938 (Wife Edith encouraged him to take his first lesson.)
*Took first lesson at Washau CC, NV from Ken Johnson (a 350lb left-hander) a chef at his own restaurant
in his casino in Washau County. Also, became only State Senator that had his own casino in Carson City.
*Shot first round in the 70s (76) at Brentwood CC, Brentwood, Ca at 25 years old.
*Shot first round in the 60s at Griffith Park GC at the Wilson Course where they had the LA Open at 25
years old.
*When World War II began Riegel went to Emery Riddle Universitys flight school in Miami.
*Turned Professional in 1950 and joined PGA Tour
*His wife Edith followed him around on every hole at every tournament. She was good friends with
Valerie Hogan and Louise Nelson.
*He was one of the first golfers involved in bodybuilding/working out and was always the strongest
professional on the PGA Tour.
*Had 10 Holes in One.
*Held 3 Course Records (Including Philadelphia Cricket Club, Buena CC)
*Oldest Qualifier of the US Open at 55 years old in 1969 Champions Course in Houston, Tx.
*Only USGA Contestant listed in record book by his nickname.
*Head Golf Professional at Radnor Valley CC from 1954 to 1961.
*Participated in ownership of York Road Golf Club in Bucks County.
*USGA Rules of Golf expert.
*Rules Chairman for Philadelphia PGA Section.
*Captain of Challenge Cup Matches from the beginning.
*For over 30 years was a permanent member of the Philadelphia PGA Sections Tournament Committee.
*Also, was the Rules Chairman of every Section tournament.
*Member of Philadelphia PGA Hall of Fame Committee
Played in:
6 US Amateurs 1940,41,46,47,48,49
16 US Opens
11 Masters (all in a row)
9 PGA Championships
16 Bing Crosby Invitationals at Pebble Beach
5 Bob Hope Invitationals (Includes the Little Hope)
1 British Amateur at Carnoustie
As an Amateur:
1940 First Big Tournament Ever Played In - Phoenix Open at Phoenix CC, AZ (5th Low Amateur)
(Shot 76 in 1st Rnd and Had Hole-in-One on Second Hole with a bladed 8iron that hit the flagstick)
1940 Qualified for first US Amateur at Winged Foot, NY
1942 Florida State Amateur at Ponte Vedre CC, Miami, FL Champion
(Watched fellow competitor put the ball off of the green and out of bounds.)
1943 Southen Oregon Amateur at Medford CC, Or Champion
1943 Dixie Amateur at Miami CC, FL - Medalist
1946 Trans-Mississippi at Denver CC, Denver, CO Champion
1946 US Amateur at Baltusrol set qualifying record (69&67) 136 - Medalist
1946 US Open at Canterbury Missed Cut (153)
1947 US Amateur at Pebble Beach, CA Champion def. Johnny Dawson 2&1 (1048 entries)
1947 US Open at St. Louis CC Tied for 59th
1947 The Master at Augusta National, GA 40th Place
1947 US Open at St. Louis tied for 59th
1947 Walker Cup Team (Capt. Francis Ouimet) at St. Andrews Undefeated
? North & South Pinehurst
1948 The Masters at Augusta National, GA Low Amateur (293)(Tied for 13th Over-all)
1948 St. Petersburg Open at Sunset Golf Club, FL Low Amateur
1948 Portland Open at Portland CC, Or Low Amateur
1948 Trans-Mississippi at Mission Hills, Kansas City, Ks Champion
1948 Western Amateur at Wichita, Ks Medalist
1948 Western Amateur at Wichita CC, KS Champion def. James T. McHale 3&1
1948 US Open at Riviera CC, CA Missed Cut
1949 US Open at Medinah, IL Low Amateur (14th over-all)
1949 Walker Cup Team at Winged Foot Undefeated
1949 The Masters at Augusta National, GA Tied for 30th as an Amateur
1949 Western Open Low Amateur (72-70-72-70=284 / T20) Sam Snead won
1949 Greater Greensboro Open Runner-up Amateur
Other Accomplishments
as an Amateur:
1949 US Amateur at Oak Hill CC, Rochester CC, NY (had an ace on old sixth hole during practice round)
Exhibitions as an
Amateur:
1948 Exhibition with Bobby Jones, Dick Garlington, and Billy Burke at Clearwater CC
and Duneadon Course at PGA National, FL. Shot 62
1948 Inverarry 4-Ball Partnered with Byron Nelson against Cary Middlecoff and Lloyd Mangrum
1948 with Bobby Locke and Dutch Harrison
1948 with Gene Sarazen, Ed Carman, Bruce Coltart at Buena CC, NJ Shot 72
Awards as an Amateur:
1947 Helm Award for Amateur Athlete of the Year
1950 US Open at Merion tied for 12th with Sam Snead (194)
1950 The Masters at Augusta National, GA Tied for 21st (298)
1951 US Open at Oakland Hills tied for 10th with Sam Snead (295)
1951 Masters at Augusta Runner-up (282 6)
1951 PGA Tour Money List 8th
1951 Joined Wilson Sporting Goods advisory staff and was loyal for over 50 years.
1952 The Masters at Augusta National, GA Tied for 14th (297)
1952 US Open at Northwood CC Missed Cut (152)
1953 The Masters at Augusta National, GA Tied for 29th (297)
1954 US Open at Baltusrol CC Tied for 42nd (305)
1954 The Masters at Augusta National, GA Tied for 38th (303)
1954 Returned to Pennsylvania as Head Golf Professional at Radnor Valley Country Club.
1955 The Masters at Augusta National, GA Tied for 13th (294)
1955 US Open at Olympic Club, IL. Tied for 40th (310)
1956 The Masters at Augusta National, GA Tied for 40th (307)
1956 US Open at Oak Hill CC, NY Missed Cut (157)
1957 The Masters at Augusta National, GA Tied for 31st (300)
1957 Pennsylvania Open at Hershey CC, PA Champion (145)
1958 US Open at Southern Hills Missed Cut (159)
1959 US Open at Winged Foot Missed Cut (152)
1959 Pennsylvania Open at Hershey CC, PA Champion (144)
1959 Yorktown Open at Yorktown CC Champion
1960 Philadelphia Open at Green Valley CC, PA Champion (65+77 142)
As a Professional
(continued):
1960 Genessee (Genny) Open at Rochester, NY Champion
Genessee (Genny) Open at Rochester, NY Champion
1967 Salsbury Open at Salsbury Golf & Yacht Club, Salsbury, Md. Champion
1968 Salsbury Open at Salsbury Golf & Yacht Club, Salsbury, Md. Champion
1963 US Open at The Country Club, Brookline, Mass. Missed Cut (161)
1964 US Open at Congressional, Md 48th Place (306)
1967 US Open at Baltusrol CC, NJ Missed Cut (154)
1969 US Open at Champions CC, - Missed Cut (155)
1975 Horton Smith Award
1993 Inducted into the Philadelphia Section Hall of Fame
Other tournaments won
as a Professional with no year attached:
Pro ABC
Pro Lady (72)
Pro-Senior (65)
Pro-Am
South Jersey Open at Little Mill/Wedgewood/SJGA NJ Champion
Philadelphia PGA Section Senior PGA Championship at Camp Hill CC Champion
Philadelphia PGA Section Senior PGA Championship at Champion
Awards as a
Professional:
19 Outstanding Golfer of the Year
19 Outstanding Long Iron Player
1975 Horton Smith Award
Award for starting up the Pro-Blind Tournament
2004 Chairman of the Committee in perpetuity Philadelphia Section PGA
Cape May National Golf Club
Commonwealth Country Club
Edgemont Country Club
Still frequents the
following clubs:
Cape May National Golf Club
Commonwealth Country Club
Edgemont Country Club
Hartefeld National Golf Club (honorary member)
Llanerch Country Club
Stone Harbor Golf Club
Any questions about Skee can be directed to John Petronis at 609-374-1414.