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James Piot claims U.S. Amateur Championship after back-nine rally
James Piot takes a swing on the tee box at the NCAA Championships earlier this year. (Courtesy: Michigan State Athletics)

James Piot claims U.S. Amateur Championship after back-nine rally

OAKMONT, Pa. (BVM) — This past Sunday, James Piot defeated Austin Greaser through 36 holes at Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania to claim the 2021 U.S. Amateur Championship. The Michigan State University senior was not favored to win or come close prior to the tournament — Piot was ranked 86th in the World Amateur Golf Rankings — but he came to play. 

Piot dispelled Greaser after an impressive back nine with a hole to play after struggling to find his feet during the earlier part of the day.

Before Piot won the 2021 U.S. Amateur, the Canton, Michigan native was already a seasoned champion of the sport. While he was in high school, Piot led his team to three straight state championships, was a fourtime Michigan High School Golf Super Team selection and won the 2016 and 2017 Michigan Junior PGA Championships

Despite these impressive accolades while in high school, Piot garnered little attention from top programs. Although interest in Piot was subdued, he was identified by assistant Dan Ellis from Michigan State as only a freshman in high school. When it came time to choose a school, the Spartans got their guy. 

From the start, Casey Lubahn — head men’s golf coach at Michigan State — knew Piot was a special kind of talent. Lubahn already knew Piot was a gifted golfer due to his performances throughout his high school tenure, but it was Piot’s personality that stood out. The Detroit Catholic Central alum was composed, but always striving to be better and aim for the top. 

During his freshman year, Piot would go on to win the 2018 Big Ten Freshman of the Year award, becoming the first Spartan to don this award since 2005 when Ryan Brehm would win. Piot played in all 12 tournaments that year, recording a 73.47 average — the third lowest score on the team. 

The Spartan would continue to shine his sophomore year with first team All-Big Ten and PING All-Midwest Region honors. Piot would also record the second lowest singleseason scoring average in program history with a 71.49 to go along with two topfive finishes and five top-10 finishes. In addition, Piot finished in second place at the Robert Kepler Invitational, going five under par. 

Piot was ready to go his junior year with PING All-Region and second team All-Big Ten selections. The Spartan led his team with a 72.18 average score and won his first two career tournaments. He finished nineunder par through 54 holes — a career best — at the Island Resort Intercollegiate Championship and also tied for first at Inverness Intercollegiate with a score of twounder par at Inverness Country Club.

As a senior, Piot was awarded as a PING All-America honorable mention as well as a unanimous first team All-Big Ten selection. Piot also recorded Michigan State’s lowest ever singleseason average score of 71.33, and was awarded the Big Ten Sportsmanship award. Piot finished up his season securing four topfour finishes along with a win at the Hoosier Collegiate Invitational and winning the region’s only individual bid to the NCAA Championships where he placed 90th.

With Piot’s U.S. Amateur win, he qualifies for the U.S. Open, Masters and The Open at St. Andrews, but he must maintain his amateur status for the Masters and The Open. With this win, Piot also cements himself in Michigan history by being the only person from Michigan to win the U.S. Amateur. 

Piot will be a fifthyear senior this fall at Michigan State where he will look to prepare and train for his upcoming major tournaments in 2022.