Michigan State University Athletics
James Piot Wins Georgia Cup in Matchup with British Amateur Champ
3/27/2022 4:38:00 PM | Men's Golf
East Lansing, Mich. – When Michigan State senior men's golf James Piot won the 121st United States Amateur Championship last summer, he earned invites to several events. One of those was the Georgia Cup, which was held on Sunday at the Lakeside Course at the Golf Club of Georgia.
The Georgia Cup is a head-to-head 18-hole match between the winner of the U.S. Amateur, Piot, and the reigning British Amateur Championship winner, currently Laird Shepherd, who came from 8-down last June to win his title.
Piot won the match with Shepherd, 1-up, claiming the Georgia Cup after hitting a long lag putt that wandered and meandered toward the hole to give him the win.
It was a back-and-forth match with Shepherd, who went to the University of Stirling and makes his home in St. Andrew's, Scotland.
Shepherd was 2-up after four holes before Piot won the next three holes to take a 1-up lead, but the Scot won the eighth and ninth holes and went to the turn 1-up.
Piot, who had three birdies and just one bogey during the round, won the 10th hole to make it all square, but he lost the next two holes to fall behind by two after 12 holes. Like he did last summer, Piot made a comeback, winning the 14th, 15th and 16th holes to take a 1-up lead.
The amateur champs then split with the final two holes, with a long lag putt on the 18th from Piot giving him the 1-up victory.
Established at The Golf Club of Georgia in 1998, The Georgia Cup is an 18-hole charity match that annually brings together the reigning United States and British Amateur Champions in advance of the Masters. Georgia Tech player Matt Kuchar won the 1997 United States Amateur Championship and in the Spring of 1998 a new tradition was born, with the Georgia Cup hosted at The Golf Club of Georgia. Kuchar defeated Craig Watson in 1998 to win the first Georgia Cup match. This tradition continues today with a reception following play before the Amateurs head to Augusta to compete in the Masters Tournament.
The Georgia Cup presents a special opportunity for galleries attending at The Golf Club of Georgia. Entry is complimentary as spectators are invited to spend the day with the two finest amateur golfers in the world. In the spirit and intimacy of the Walker Cup matches, fans can walk with the players, unhindered by gallery ropes and able to enjoy a unique perspective. Over the years, The Georgia Cup has grown from an intimate Club event to a unique amateur championship known on both sides of the Atlantic.
The Georgia Cup is a head-to-head 18-hole match between the winner of the U.S. Amateur, Piot, and the reigning British Amateur Championship winner, currently Laird Shepherd, who came from 8-down last June to win his title.
Piot won the match with Shepherd, 1-up, claiming the Georgia Cup after hitting a long lag putt that wandered and meandered toward the hole to give him the win.
It was a back-and-forth match with Shepherd, who went to the University of Stirling and makes his home in St. Andrew's, Scotland.
Shepherd was 2-up after four holes before Piot won the next three holes to take a 1-up lead, but the Scot won the eighth and ninth holes and went to the turn 1-up.
Piot, who had three birdies and just one bogey during the round, won the 10th hole to make it all square, but he lost the next two holes to fall behind by two after 12 holes. Like he did last summer, Piot made a comeback, winning the 14th, 15th and 16th holes to take a 1-up lead.
The amateur champs then split with the final two holes, with a long lag putt on the 18th from Piot giving him the 1-up victory.
Established at The Golf Club of Georgia in 1998, The Georgia Cup is an 18-hole charity match that annually brings together the reigning United States and British Amateur Champions in advance of the Masters. Georgia Tech player Matt Kuchar won the 1997 United States Amateur Championship and in the Spring of 1998 a new tradition was born, with the Georgia Cup hosted at The Golf Club of Georgia. Kuchar defeated Craig Watson in 1998 to win the first Georgia Cup match. This tradition continues today with a reception following play before the Amateurs head to Augusta to compete in the Masters Tournament.
The Georgia Cup presents a special opportunity for galleries attending at The Golf Club of Georgia. Entry is complimentary as spectators are invited to spend the day with the two finest amateur golfers in the world. In the spirit and intimacy of the Walker Cup matches, fans can walk with the players, unhindered by gallery ropes and able to enjoy a unique perspective. Over the years, The Georgia Cup has grown from an intimate Club event to a unique amateur championship known on both sides of the Atlantic.
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Golf
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