Michigan Golf Journal September 2019

Michigan Golf Journal College Corner, Season Previews The Spartans come off 2018-19 as one of the program’s best seasons of the last decade, earning a tournament win (Colleton River Collegiate); taking third at the Big Ten Championships; and getting a program- record fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament bid. The Spartans also put up the lowest 18- hole (272) and 54-hole (828) team scores in program history at the NCAA Pullman Regional. Big losses include graduated senior Donnie Trosper (of Canton), who recently went to the U.S. Amateur at Pinehurst, and Kaleb Johnson, who turned pro after his junior campaign. Leading the way this season is the lone returning senior, Andrew Walker, and junior James Piot, who recorded the second-lowest single-season scoring average in program history at 71.49. Piot was also an All-Big Ten first team selection as well as a PING All- Midwest region honoree, and is a former Big Ten Freshman of the Year. Walker, who needs to finish his college career strong, enters 2019-20 as the Spartans’ active leader in rounds played at 74. He came to MSU as a 3-time Michigan Mr. Golf Award recipient in high school while playing at Battle Creek Lakeview, where he won the Division 1 state championships in 2015 and 2016. He also has the distinction of, at age 14, being the youngest African American golfer to qualify for the U.S. Amateur Championship. MSU sophomore Troy Taylor II played every round of every tournament as a rookie and posted a 73.57 average – third best on the team. This will be head coach and MSU alum Casey Lubahn’s 9 th season directing the Spartans. He was captain of the team as a senior in 2004. Potentially the biggest team news and a great opportunity for mid-Michigan is that MSU will host the NCAA East Lansing Regional, May 18-20, 2020 at Eagle Eye Golf Club in East Lansing. Content by Tom Lang Michigan State Men: James Piot Troy Taylor