Golfer becomes more consistent
By Justin Feil, Assistant Sports Editor
Ryan Siegler is more consistent than ever, and he’s busier than ever.
The two are linked.
Siegler, who will be a senior at West Windsor-Plainsboro High North, is in the midst of an unprecedented stretch for him. He was to begin play in the Optimist International Junior Golf Challenge at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., on Tuesday. The boys 16-18 year old division tournament ends with the final round Sunday, and Siegler is to be in Madison, Miss., on Monday for the start of the Big “I” National Championship at Reunion Golf & Country Club.
”I think it’s going to be pretty tough,” Siegler said. “I’ve never done anything like that. I’m supposed to play practice round on Sunday. I have to skip that. I’ll go out there and hope for the best.”
If he gets in to Mississippi early enough, his fellow rising senior at WW-P North, Charles Cai, might give him some pointers on a course that Siegler has never played. Cai also qualified for the Big I tournament. Cai won the qualifier by one stroke over Siegler; both are returning to the tournament for the second straight year.
”I feel pretty good,” Siegler said. “I played OK this summer. I feel like I can definitely play well against pretty much anybody.”
Siegler missed the Optimist last summer, but played in it two years ago when he was in the boys 13-15 age group.
”I’m definitely expecting a lot of good competition because it’s coming from around the whole world,” Siegler said. “I think I can play well on that course. I played there two years ago, but I didn’t play that well. My game is a lot better. I have a new swing coach, Mike Dinda from Blue Bell, Pa. He’s really helped me get my swing to a point where I can rely on it.
”I’m a lot more consistent,” he said. “I’ve shot over 80 only once this year. I’m not really shooting really low, but I’m keeping it in the 70s. I’m more consistent, and I feel like my putting is coming around too. I’m making a lot more putts.”
As Siegler’s game has improved, he’s been able to compete in more and more events to test his development. His summer schedule has kept him busy.
”It’s really good choosing between some different things,” Siegler said. “I had to choose between some things, but it’s good to have options.”
Siegler had hoped for better than his top-10 finish at the NJ-PGA event that was split over two days between Rutgers University Golf Club and Springdale Golf Club in one of his final competitions before the Optimist. Siegler maintains high standards for himself.
”I didn’t play that well,” said Siegler, who shot 76 on both courses. “It was a disappointing finish. I was probably in fifth or sixth place. I try to win every time.”
Siegler is looking forward to testing himself against an international field at the Optimist, then another outstanding field at the Big I. He had to qualify for both events.
”Those will be the biggest things I’ve played,” he said. “So far I’ve just played qualifiers to get myself in position where I can play big tournaments. This would be the biggest two coming up.”
The Optimist held a one-day qualifying event at Greate Bay Country Club in Somers Point that Siegler won by three strokes despite difficult playing conditions on that April day.
”It’s near the Jersey Shore and the winds were like 30 miles per hour,” Siegler recalled. “It was pouring pretty much the whole time. You could barely hold up your umbrella for the rain because of how hard the wind was blowing. I shot 76, which isn’t that good of a score, but in those conditions, I was really happy with it.”
The 17-year-old had missed one of the two qualifying spots by just one shot last year as he finished third. Siegler qualified for the Big I tournament by first placing third at the Mercer County Tournament. The top five advanced to the state qualifier that was held at Old York Country Club. Cai won by a stroke over Siegler to help both advance to some of their most distant tournaments.
”This is the most traveling I’ve done,” said Siegler, who will finish his summer with a pair of AJGA tournaments in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. “Before, I would just do the states around here, and the only thing far away was the Optimist. Everything else was close, in the tri-state area. This year, I’m going to Florida, Mississippi, Maryland and the AJGA are in Pennsylvania.”
Siegler already won the Christman Cup at the Bidermann Golf Club in Wilmington, Del., by shooting 74-73-147. As the winner, he will be one of four members of the Greater Area of Philadelphia golf team that will play against 11 other golf organizations from across the United States and Canada in the Williamson Cup in Bethesda, Md, on Aug. 7. It’s another addition to a busy schedule that he has earned.
”I’m playing the same number of tournaments that I have,” Siegler said. “This year, I’m playing more tournament rounds because there are more rounds in the tournaments I’m in. I have four straight weeks of tournaments that are three-day tournaments. In the Optimist, it’s four days and the Big I is four days.”
Ryan Siegler wouldn’t be able to compete in so many high level tournaments if it wasn’t for some of the improvements that he has made.
”Mike Dinda has really helped me a lot with consistently,” Siegler said. “Before, I’d hit a lot of good shots, then hit a bad shot to kill the mood and that would ruin my round. I’m hitting my driver a lot straighter. It allows me to keep it in play and be more aggressive.”