Michigan State senior golfer James Piot qualified for the 2021 NCAA Men’s Golf Tournament after posting the lowest score from an individual of five-under-par through three rounds at the Kingston Springs NCAA Regional Championship at the Golf Club of Tennessee.
Piot finished with back to back rounds of 68 to secure the lowest score out of the 10 individuals competing at the regional championship that was not competing with their team. Piot tied for fourth place overall out of all golfers.
"It feels incredible," Piot said in a press release. "You dream of going to the national championship as a collegiate athlete. I just wish I could do it with my team. I'm going to make the most of it and enjoy it."
Piot bogeyed the first hole of the round but bounced back with two birdies on the sixth and seventh holes to head into the back nine at one-under on the day.
Piot finished strong with two birdies and seven pars to close out the round at 68, securing his bid to the national championship.
"I didn't get off to the best start, but stayed patient and got some good birdie looks down the stretch and took advantage of everything I had," Piot said in the release.
Piot will move onto the NCAA championship at the Grayhawk Golf Course in Scottsdale, Arizona from May 28 to June 2. Piot is the first MSU men’s golfer to play in the NCAA championship since 2007 and the first to qualify as an individual since Eric Jorgensen in 2002.
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