Michigan State University Athletics
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James Piot Advances to the Semifinals of the U.S. Amateur Championship
8/13/2021 9:05:00 PM | Men's Golf
After a long, pressure-packed Friday, Michigan State's James Piot has moved on to the semifinals of the U.S. Amateur Championship. Piot began the day at Oakmont Country Club with the round of 16 where he defeated Thomas Hutchinson, 4&3. In the quarterfinals, which began fewer than two hours later, he topped Matthew Sharpstene, 3&1, to earn a spot in Saturday's semifinals.
"It feels great," Piot said. "Obviously as a golfer you prepare for a tournament like this. Having an opportunity to win the U.S. Amateur is a great feeling. I'm just trying to stay in the moment and do the best I can to prepare for Saturday."
In round of 16 match vs. Hutchison, the two players were tied through five holes. Piot then took control by winning the sixth and never looked back, never allowing Hutchison to take another hole, while extending his lead on the 10th, 12th and 14th holes.
Piot trailed Sharpstene, a 2020 U.S. Amateur semifinalist, after five holes in the quarterfinal match. Piot tied it up after eight and then took the lead after 10. But Sharpstene won the 11th and 13th to again square the match.
Piot was then able to break the tie for good as he won three straight holes – No. 15, 16 and 17 – to punch his ticket to the semifinals.
"It was a sigh of relief," Piot said. "It felt great to get it done and then know you're one step closer. It was a great day and great to have Coach Ellis on the bag with me."
Piot will take on Nick Gabrelcik of the University of North Florida in Saturday's second semifinal at 2:20 p.m. Coverage on Golf Channel is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. before moving over to NBC at 4 p.m.
Piot, who will return to Michigan State for a fifth year this fall, put together an amazing spring for the Spartans. The native of Canton posted the lowest single-season average in program history at 71.33. Piot garnered Honorable Mention All-America accolades and was named to the All-Big Ten first team for the second time in his career.
The finance major won the lone individual spot to advance from the NCAA Kingston Springs Regional to the NCAA Championships in May.
"The stretch at the end of the year with the NCAA Regional and Championships helped for sure," Piot said. "Playing in those events and getting used to some stress and pressure was good and it definitely helped a lot."
Piot is the second player in as many weeks from Michigan State to advance the semifinals of the nation's top amateur tournament. Last week, Valentina Rossi of the Spartan women's golf team advanced to the semifinals of the U.S. Women's Amateur Championship.
"It feels great," Piot said. "Obviously as a golfer you prepare for a tournament like this. Having an opportunity to win the U.S. Amateur is a great feeling. I'm just trying to stay in the moment and do the best I can to prepare for Saturday."
In round of 16 match vs. Hutchison, the two players were tied through five holes. Piot then took control by winning the sixth and never looked back, never allowing Hutchison to take another hole, while extending his lead on the 10th, 12th and 14th holes.
Piot trailed Sharpstene, a 2020 U.S. Amateur semifinalist, after five holes in the quarterfinal match. Piot tied it up after eight and then took the lead after 10. But Sharpstene won the 11th and 13th to again square the match.
Piot was then able to break the tie for good as he won three straight holes – No. 15, 16 and 17 – to punch his ticket to the semifinals.
"It was a sigh of relief," Piot said. "It felt great to get it done and then know you're one step closer. It was a great day and great to have Coach Ellis on the bag with me."
Piot will take on Nick Gabrelcik of the University of North Florida in Saturday's second semifinal at 2:20 p.m. Coverage on Golf Channel is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. before moving over to NBC at 4 p.m.
Piot, who will return to Michigan State for a fifth year this fall, put together an amazing spring for the Spartans. The native of Canton posted the lowest single-season average in program history at 71.33. Piot garnered Honorable Mention All-America accolades and was named to the All-Big Ten first team for the second time in his career.
The finance major won the lone individual spot to advance from the NCAA Kingston Springs Regional to the NCAA Championships in May.
"The stretch at the end of the year with the NCAA Regional and Championships helped for sure," Piot said. "Playing in those events and getting used to some stress and pressure was good and it definitely helped a lot."
Piot is the second player in as many weeks from Michigan State to advance the semifinals of the nation's top amateur tournament. Last week, Valentina Rossi of the Spartan women's golf team advanced to the semifinals of the U.S. Women's Amateur Championship.
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