The hottest player at the start of the tournament is rarely the hottest at the end.
But James Piot shows no sign of cooling down at the Michigan Amateur golf championship.
Piot defeated Coalter Smith 1-up on Thursday in the quarterfinal game, advancing to the semifinals of the state’s most prestigious amateur tournament. Michigan State University golfer is two wins away from becoming the ninth in the event’s 109-year history to win the championship in the same year he got the medal.
He joins August Meekhof of Eastmanville, Tyler Copp of Ann Arbor and Logan Price of Grand Blanc in the last four of the tournament which started with 630 promising titles. The quartet returns to the Heather Course in Boyne Highlands for the semi-finals on Friday morning, with the finals immediately following.
Piot fired rounds of 68 and 66 in the play portion of the stroke, sharing the medal honors with teammate MSU Andrew Walker at 6-under on par. But this traditionally does not translate to success in Michigan Am.
Before Ben Smith of Novi accomplished the rare feat last season, 20 years had passed since the medal took the win.
But Piot hasn’t lost his hot hand, as the Canton resident has made four straight wins to bring his title search to the last day.
“Today I faced some difficult games – (Lorenzo Pinili) is the next big news in junior golf, he is a stallion and I fought against Coalter from high school,” he said. “I feel that the game is ready. I want to go out and hit all the greens and if I do something like that, I will be hard to beat. “
His next challenge should be fun as he prepares for future teammate Meekhof. The future freshman of the MSU beat John Quigley of St. Clair Shores 3 and 2 to gain his place in the last four after being sown n. 44 on the 64-player playing field.
Copp and Price collide in the other semifinal in another collegial fight. Copp, who plays Mercer, defeated Ann Arbor’s Charlie Green 4 and 2 in the quarterfinals. In the longest quarterfinal game, Price overtook Zachary Robbins of Grand Rapids in 19 holes for a 1 in 1 triumph. The price is the seed n. 46 who played collegially for the Florida Gulf Coast.
James Piot and August Meekhof, top, and Tyler Copp and Logan Price, bottom, are in the bottom four of Michigan Am. (Courtesy GAM)
GAME
SEMI-FINALS
James Piot (Canton) vs. August Meekhof (Eastmanville)
QUARTER FINALS
Thursday afternoon
James Piot (Canton) def. Coalter Smith (Grosse Pointe Farms), 1-up
August Meekhof (Eastmanville) def. John Quigley (St. Clair Shores), 3 and 2
Logan Price (Grand Blanc) def. Zachary Robbins (Grand Rapids), 1-up (19)
Tyler Copp (Ann Arbor) def. Charlie Green (Ann Arbor), 4 and 2
THIRD ROUND
Thursday morning
Bracket 1
James Piot (Canton) def. Lorenzo Pinili (Rochester Hills), 4 and 3
Coalter Smith (Grosse Pointe Farms) def. Michael Anderson (Northville), 4 and 2
John Quigley (St. Clair Shores) def. Brad Bastion (Shelby Township), 1-up
August Meekhof (Eastmanville) def. Grant Haefner (Bloomfield Hills), 2 and 1
Bracket 2
Tyler Copp (Ann Arbor) def. Andrew Walker (Battle Creek), 2 and 1
Charlie Green (Ann Arbor) def. Eric Spencer (Bloomfield Hills), 1-up
Logan Price (Grand Blanc) def. Tyler Rayman (Otsego), 5 and 4
Zachary Robbins (Grand Rapids) def. Sean Friel (Rochester Hills), 6 and 4
SECOND ROUND
Wednesday afternoon
BRACKET 1
James Piot (Canton) def. Scott Strickland (Bloomfield Hills), 7 and 6
Lorenzo Pinili (Rochester Hills) def. Kyle Petrovich (West Bloomfield), 3 and 2
Coalter Smith (Grosse Pointe Farms) def. Benjamin Balen (Freeland), 1-up (20)
Michael Anderson (Northville) def. Jackson Jones (Bloomfield), 1-up
Brad Bastion (Shelby Township) def. Will Anderson (Portage), 2 and 1
John Quigley (St. Clair Shores) def. David Vaclav (Flat Rock), 2-up
Grant Haefner (Bloomfield Hills) def. Ben Smith (Novi), 5 and 4
August Meekhof (Eastmanville) def. Patrick Sullivan (Grosse Pointe), 2 and 1
BRACKET 2
Andrew Walker (Battle Creek) def. Ryan Johnson (New Boston), 4 and 3
Tyler Copp (Ann Arbor) def. Rory Myers (Wayland), 5 and 4
Eric Spencer (Bloomfield Hills) def. Ian Martin (Saline), 2-up
Charlie Green (Ann Arbor) def. Dan Ellis (East Lansing), 4 and 3
Tyler Rayman (Otsego) def. Nick Gunthorpe (East Lansing), 3 and 2
Logan Price (Grand Blanc) def. Cameron Lippoldt (Midland), 2 and 1
Sean Friel (Rochester Hills) def. Max Palmer (Novi), 5 and 3
Zachary Robbins (Grand Rapids) def. Nick Krueger (Spring Lake), 4 and 3
FIRST ROUND
Wednesday morning
BRACKET 1
Kyle Petrovich (West Bloomfield) def. Jon Swint (Wyandotte), 5 and 4
Lorenzo Pinili (Rochester Hills) def. Mitchell White (Muskegon), 6 and 5
Coalter Smith (Grosse Pointe Farms) def. Scott Sparks (Shelby Township), 3 and 2
Benjamin Balen (Freeland) def. Austin Fauser (Clinton), 1-up (19 holes)
Michael Anderson (Northville) def. Austin Deiters (Midland), 2 and 1
Jackson Jones (Bloomfield) def. Adam White (Royal Oak), 4 and 3
Will Anderson (Portage) def. Mike Ignasiak (Saline), 1-up
Brad Bastion (Shelby Township) def. Nick Pumford (Troy), 2 and 1
David Vaclav (Flat Rock) def. Matt Mahanic (Grosse Ile), 1-up
John Quigley (St. Clair Shores) def. Jimmy Dales (Northville), 1-up
Grant Haefner (Bloomfield Hills) def. David Levan (Ann Arbor), 1-up
Ben Smith (Novi) def. Peter Farner (Commerce Township), 4 and 3
Patrick Sullivan (Grosse Pointe) def. Matt Ostby (Kingsley), 3 and 2
August Meekhof (Eastmanville) def. Anthony Sorentino (Rochester Hills), 1-up
Scott Strickland (Bloomfield Hills) def. Matthew Pelak (Mattawan),
James Piot (Canton) def. Tom Stevens (Northville), 7 and 5
BRACKET 2
Tyler Copp (Ann Arbor) def. Drew Coble (Lake Orion), 2 and 1
Rory Myers (Wayland) def. Nick Campbell (Ann Arbor), 1-up
Ian Martin (Saline) def. Alex Zeoli (Royal Oak), 1-up (22 holes)
Eric Spencer (Bloomfield Hills) def. Bryce Douglas (Gladstone), 1-up
Dan Ellis (East Lansing) def. Brian Hayward (Grand Rapids), 2-up
Charlie Green (Ann Arbor) def. Chris Allen (Birmingham), 3 and 2
Nick Gunthorpe (East Lansing) def. Anthony Comito (Macomb), 2 and 1
Tyler Rayman (Otsego) def. Pierce Morrissey (Canadian Lakes), 1-up
Cameron Lippoldt (Midland) def. Mike Oursler (Battle Creek), 4 and 3
Logan Price (Grand Blanc) def. Matthew Orwig (Ypsilanti), 4 and 3
Sean Friel (Rochester Hills) def. Nathan Clark (DeWitt), 1-up
Max Palmer (Novi) def. Austin Kreger (Harrison Township), 4 and 2
Nick Krueger (Spring Lake) def. Jimmy Chestnut (Royal Oak), 3 and 2
Zachary Robbins (Grand Rapids) def. Thomas Hursey (Traverse City), 2 and 1
Andrew Walker (Battle Creek) def. Anthony Lis (Grand Rapids), 7 and 5
Ryan Johnson (New Boston) def. Jerry Gunthorpe (Ovid), 1-up (19)
RESULTS OF THE STROKE GAME
Andrew Walker, Battle Creek 68-66 – 134 (-6)
James Piot, Canton 68-66 – 134 (-6)
Nick Gunthorpe, East Lansing 69-68 – 137 (-3)
Will Anderson, Portage 71-68 – 139 (-1)
Grant Haefner, Bloomfield Hills 69-70 – 139 (-1)
Coalter Smith, Grosse Pointe Farms 72-68 – 140 (E)
Ian Martin, Saline 72-68 – 140 (E)
Sean Friel, Rochester Hills 70-70 – 140 (E)
Dan Ellis, East Lansing 74-67 – 141 (+1)
Jimmy Chestnut, Royal Oak 71-70 – 141 (+1)
Patrick Sullivan, Grosse Pointe 73-68 – 141 (+1)
Michael Anderson, Northville 70-71 – 141 (+1)
David Vaclav, Flat Rock 70-72 – 142 (+2)
Tyler Copp, Ann Arbor 73-69 – 142 (+2)
Cameron Lippoldt, Midland 67-75 – 142 (+2)
Lorenzo Selection, Rochester Hills 69-74 – 143 (+3)
Kyle Petrovich, West Bloomfield 71-72 – 143 (+3)
Rory Myers, Wayland 75-68 – 143 (+3)
John Quigley, St. Clair Shores 71-73 – 144 (+4)
Anthony Sorentino, Rochester Hills 74-70 – 144 (+4)
Thomas Hursey, Traverse City 74-70 – 144 (+4)
Matthew Orwig, Ypsilanti 71-73 – 144 (+4)
Jackson Jones, Bloomfield 75-70 – 145 (+5)
Charlie Green, Ann Arbor 72-73 – 145 (+5)
Benjamin Balen, Freeland 76-69 – 145 (+5)
Nick Pumford, Troy 70-76 – 146 (+6)
Tyler Rayman, Otsego 75-71 – 146 (+6)
Austin Kreger, Harrison Township 74-72 – 146 (+6)
Ryan Johnson, New Boston 78-68 – 146 (+6)
Ben Smith, New 73-73 – 146 (+6)
Scott Strickland, Bloomfied Hills 75-71 – 146 (+6)
Jerry Gunthorpe, Ovid 74-72 – 146 (+6)
Eric Spencer, Bloomfield Hills 77-69 – 146 (+6)
Matthew Pelak, Mattawan 75-71 – 146 (+6)
Peter Farner, Commerce Township 72-75 – 147 (+7)
Pierce Morrissey, Canadian Lakes 77-70 – 147 (+7)
Bryce Douglas, Gladstone 72-75 – 147 (+7)
Austin Fauser, Clinton 75-72 – 147 (+7)
Max Palmer, New 80-67 – 147 (+7)
Brad Bastion, Shelby Township 73-74 – 147 (+7)
Chris Allen, Birminghan 75-73 – 148 (+8)
Adam White, Royal Oak 78-70 – 148 (+8)
Zachary Robbins, Grand Rapids 72-76 – 148 (+8)
August Meekhof, Eastmanville 72-77 – 149 (+9)
Logan Price, Grand Blanc 74-75 – 149 (+9)
Jon Swint, Wyandotte 78-71 – 149 (+9)
Mitchell White, Muskegon 76-73 – 149 (+9)
Nick Campbell, Ann Arbor 79-70 – 149 (+9)
Jimmy Dales, Northville 71-78 – 149 (+9)
Drew Coble, Lake Orion 72-78 – 150 (+10)
Matt Mahanic, Grosse Ile 77-74 – 151 (+11)
Brian Hayward, Grand Rapids 76-75 – 151 (+11)
Matt Ostby, Kingsley 77-74 – 151 (+11)
Austin Deiters, Midland 78-73 – 151 (+11)
Lyle Wolberg, Farmington Hills 82-69 – 151 (+11)
Mike Oursler, Battle Creek 77-74 – 151 (+11)
Nick Krueger, Spring Lake 76-75 – 151 (+11)
Anthony Comito, Macomb 76-76 – 152 (+12)
David Levan, Ann Arbor 78-74 – 152 (+12)
Scott Sparks, Shelby Township 77-75 – 152 (+12)
Alex Zeoli, Royal Oak 73-79 – 152 (+12)
Mike Ignasiak, Saline 73-79 – 152 (+12)
Nathan Clark, Dewitt 73-79 – 152 (+12)
Tom Stevens, Northville 77-76 – 153 (+13)
Anthony Lis, Grand Rapids 79-74 – 153 (+13)
