Skee Riegel

Robert Henry "Skee" Riegel (November 25, 1914 – February 22, 2009[1]) was an American professional golfer.

Skee Riegel
Personal information
Full nameRobert Henry Riegel
NicknameSkee
Born(1914-11-25)November 25, 1914
New Bloomfield, Pennsylvania
DiedFebruary 22, 2009(2009-02-22) (aged 94)
West Chester, Pennsylvania
Sporting nationality United States
Career
CollegeWest Point
Hobart College
Lafayette College
Turned professional1950
Former tour(s)PGA Tour
Professional wins7
Best results in major championships
Masters Tournament2nd: 1951
PGA ChampionshipT17: 1956, 1957
U.S. OpenT10: 1951
The Open ChampionshipDNP

Riegel attended West Point, Hobart College, and Lafayette College where he played football and baseball but not golf. He took up golf at the age of 23.[1]

During World War II, he was a flying instructor for the US Army Air Corp in Arkadelphia, Arkansas.

Riegel won the 1947 U.S. Amateur over Johnny Dawson at the Pebble Beach Golf Links, 2 and 1. He played on the Walker Cup teams of 1947 and 1949 under captain as Francis Ouimet. He went undefeated in his four Walker Cup matches.[1]

Riegel was the low amateur (T13) in the 1948 Masters Tournament

Riegel turned professional in 1950 and played in 11 straight Masters Tournaments from 1947 to 1957. In the 1951 Masters Tournament, he was tied with Sam Snead after three rounds and finished second to Ben Hogan by two strokes.

Riegel finished second to Ted Kroll in the 1952 Insurance City Open.

Riegel stopped playing full-time in 1952-1953. He served as head pro at Radnor Valley Country Club[2] from 1954 to 1961 and then became involved in the ownership of York Road Country Club in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.[3]

Riegel was the Pro Emeritus at the Cape May National Golf Club in Cape May, New Jersey.[2] He was often found walking the grounds with his poodle John Paul. Cape May National holds a large amount of history, with a number of articles about "Skee" on the walls of its clubhouse, as well a number of plaques located on the 18th tee.

Amateur wins

Professional wins

this list may be incomplete

Major championships

Amateur wins (1)
YearChampionshipWinning ScoreRunner-up
1947U.S. Amateur2 & 1United States Johnny Dawson

Results timeline

Amateur

Tournament 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949
Masters Tournament NT NT NT T50 T13 LA T30
U.S. Open NT NT NT NT CUT T59 CUT T14 LA
U.S. Amateur R64 R16 NT NT NT NT R32 M 1 R64 R32
The Amateur Championship NT NT NT NT NT NT R16

Professional

Tournament 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959
Masters Tournament T21 2 T14 T29 T38 T13 T40 T31
U.S. Open T12 T10 CUT T42 T40 CUT CUT CUT
PGA Championship R64 R32 R32 T40 CUT
Tournament 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969
Masters Tournament
U.S. Open CUT 48 CUT CUT
PGA Championship CUT T63 CUT T51

Note: Riegel never played in The Open Championship.

  Win
  Top 10
  Did not play

M = medalist
LA = low amateur
NT = no tournament
CUT = missed the half-way cut (3rd round cut in 1962 PGA Championship)
"T" indicates a tie for a place
R64, R32, R16, QF, SF = round in which player lost in match play

Sources: Masters,[4] U.S. Open and U.S. Amateur,[5] PGA Championship,[6] 1947 British Amateur[7]

U.S. national team appearances

Amateur

References
  1. Klavon, Ken (February 24, 2009). "Skee Riegel, 1947 U.S. Amateur Champion, Dies At 94". USGA. Archived from the original on March 3, 2009.
  2. Naedele, Walter F. (February 26, 2009). "Robert Riegel, 94, golf champion". The Philadelphia Inquirer.
  3. "Highlights of Robert H. "Skee" Riegel's Career". Archived from the original on July 24, 2008.
  4. www.masters.com
  5. USGA Championship Database Archived 2010-12-21 at the Wayback Machine
  6. PGA Championship Media Guide Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine
  7. "Four Scots In Last Eight". Glasgow Herald. May 30, 1947. p. 5.
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