Michigan State University Athletics
8/31/2021 11:11:00 AM | Men's Golf
EAST LANSING -- With the beginning of the season slated for this weekend, the Big Ten Conference announced its preseason honorees on Tuesday (Aug. 31) with its Golfers to Watch List. Michigan State's James Piot, Bradley Smithson and Troy Taylor II were all named to the list, which is selected by the conference coaches.
Smithson, a junior, is coming off an impressive summer which saw him win the Michigan Open in June, becoming just the fifth amateur to win the event. For the Spartans in the spring of 2021, Smithson appeared in all eight tournaments and posted a 74.9 scoring average. He also garnered Academic All-Big Ten honors.
Taylor II was a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and Academic All-Big Ten honoree as a junior a season ago. His 73.9 scoring average ranked third on the team. The native of Westerville, Ohio tied for second place at the Git-R-Done Husker Invitational in April, marking the best finish of his career.
Taylor II was one of two Spartans to have competed in the inaugural John Shippen National Invitational at Detroit Golf Club in June where he tied for 14th place.
Piot made history this summer becoming the first player from the State of Michigan to win the U.S. Amateur Championship. Piot defeated Austin Greaser of the University of North Carolina 2 & 1 in the championship match at Oakmont Country Club to win the 121st playing of golf's most prestigious amateur event.
For the Spartans in 2021, Piot garnered PING All-America honorable mention while producing the lowest single-season scoring average in program history at 71.33. He earned a bid to the NCAA Kingston Springs Regional where he then advanced to the NCAA Championships, becoming the first Spartan to compete as an individual at the national championships since 2002.
The Spartans will open the 2021-22 season this Sunday-Monday (Sept. 5-6) with the Island Resort Intercollegiate at Sage Run Golf Club in Harris.
Smithson, a junior, is coming off an impressive summer which saw him win the Michigan Open in June, becoming just the fifth amateur to win the event. For the Spartans in the spring of 2021, Smithson appeared in all eight tournaments and posted a 74.9 scoring average. He also garnered Academic All-Big Ten honors.
Taylor II was a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and Academic All-Big Ten honoree as a junior a season ago. His 73.9 scoring average ranked third on the team. The native of Westerville, Ohio tied for second place at the Git-R-Done Husker Invitational in April, marking the best finish of his career.
Taylor II was one of two Spartans to have competed in the inaugural John Shippen National Invitational at Detroit Golf Club in June where he tied for 14th place.
Piot made history this summer becoming the first player from the State of Michigan to win the U.S. Amateur Championship. Piot defeated Austin Greaser of the University of North Carolina 2 & 1 in the championship match at Oakmont Country Club to win the 121st playing of golf's most prestigious amateur event.
For the Spartans in 2021, Piot garnered PING All-America honorable mention while producing the lowest single-season scoring average in program history at 71.33. He earned a bid to the NCAA Kingston Springs Regional where he then advanced to the NCAA Championships, becoming the first Spartan to compete as an individual at the national championships since 2002.
The Spartans will open the 2021-22 season this Sunday-Monday (Sept. 5-6) with the Island Resort Intercollegiate at Sage Run Golf Club in Harris.
Players Mentioned
Thursday, September 26
Thursday, September 19
Monday, September 11
Monday, August 28