ICYMI: MSU’s James Piot Wins U.S. Amateur

Michigan State University fifth-year senior golfer James Piot won the 121st U.S. Amateur golf championship on Sunday with a 2 & 1 victory over University of North Carolina golfer Austin Greaser at famed Oakmont CC in Pennsylvania.

Piot trailed Greaser 3 down with 9 holes remaining in the 36 hole final.  But he won five of the remaining eight holes to win the Havemeyer Trophy.

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James, a Canton, Michigan native, is the first golfer born in the state of Michigan to win the U.S. Amateur.  He's the first Michigan State golfer to win the Amateur as well.  And the first Big Ten golfer since John Cook won it back in 1978 when he was playing for Ohio State.

With the victory, Piot is now exempt into the 2022 U.S. Open.  And as long as remains an amateur, he'll get invited to play in the 2022 Masters and the 2022 British Open at the legendary Old Course at St. Andrews, Scotland.

Piot will return to Michigan State for his fifth year this fall.  He is allowed to return to school because the NCAA granted an extra year of eligibility to all student-athletes due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.