SPRINGFIELD, Pa. – Experience paid off on the third and final day of the Pennsylvania Golf Association’s (PAGA) 22nd R. Jay Sigel Match Play Championship, as two semifinalists from last year’s tournament advanced to the final match.
Amani D’ambrosio (Longue Vue Club) and Nicholas Turowski (Hannastown Golf Club), who were both eliminated in the final four of the 2024 Sigel, kept up their exceptional play in the 2025 edition to advance to Wednesday’s finals.
In Wednesday morning’s semis, Turowksi faced off against Mark Miller (Philadelphia Cricket Club). Turowski was 3-up after the front nine thanks to winning holes no. 6, 8, and 9. He went 4-up after the 13th hole but Miller fought back to win the 14th to keep his hopes alive. Turowski responded with a win on 15 to wrap up the match, 4 & 3, to advance.
“Straight from the go, after I saw our tee shots, I knew it was going to be a good match,” said Turowski. “I really couldn’t blink, couldn’t mess up, and that was kind of my goal all day. I just needed to be steady, not try to give anything away, and just keep grinding. It was a great first match and I was lucky to close it out on 15.”
The other semifinal, between D’ambrosio and Evan Barbin (Philadelphia Publinks Golf Association) had much more drama. D’ambrosio was 1-up after the front nine but Barbin started strong on the back nine, winning holes 10 and 11 to go 1-up himself. They traded wins again, with D’ambrosio winning 13 and 15 and Barbin taking 14, to end up all tied with three holes to go. As it would happen, though, they remained tied for much longer than that—needing 23 holes in total to decide things, with D’ambrosio eventually sinking a birdie on the par-four fifth hole to win the marathon match.
Wednesday afternoon’s final match was also a great battle. Turowski won hole No. 9 to go 1-up at the turn, and added another win on 11 to go 2-up. D’ambrosio took hole 13 to cut into the lead, but Turowski parred 16 to go 2-up with just two holes left to play – and with both players parring 17, Turowski became the 2025 R. Jay Sigel Champion, 2 & 1.
“It was a very long wait before the finals, which was stressful,” said Turowski. “I thought we could go right back out but I had to wait for the five playoff holes. I was trying to relax in the clubhouse but all kinds of thoughts were going through my head. I’m pretty competitive and was just trying to settle down because I was amped up to go play, but it ended up being a lot of fun.”
Next up on the PAGA schedule is the 7th Parent-Child and 16th Father-Son Championship, scheduled to begin Monday, July 14 at Chester Valley Golf Club.
The Pennsylvania Golf Association would like to thank the staff and membership of Rolling Green Golf Club for the hospitality shown during this week’s championship. Additional thanks go to DICK’S Sporting Goods for sponsorship of the event as the title sponsor of the PAGA. |