For Jimmy Siegfried, the former top-ranked golfer in the Class of 2014, taking his talents to the local University of Missouri was a no-brainer.

A redshirt freshman and member of the Tigers’ golf program, Siegfried finished on top at the 25th Metropolitan Amateur Golf Championship at Boone Valley Country Club in a playoff last weekend in Augusta, Missouri, and he’s hoping the winning ways can translate when he tees it up for the black and gold.

“This was my second year playing in the event,” said Siegfried, one of the 100-plus competitors in an event comprised of golfers of all ages. “Going into any tournament, I always have the mindset to win, but I especially felt confident with my ball striking before the tournament.”

Standing on the opening tee trailing by eight shots on the final day of the tournament, Siegfried knew it’d take an incredible performance, one that would rank up there in terms of his golf accomplishments.

And after scoring a double-bogey on the opening hole, that challenge heightened immensely.

“After the double, I just tried to go out and make as many birdies as possible,” Siegfried said. “Obviously, going up against Skip (Berkmeyer), there were some nerves, but I was able to control myself.”

Siegfried fought hand-in-hand with Berkmeyer, the 42-year-old champion of the tournament in 2009, and with Central Missouri golfer Sam Migdal. Luckily, a triple-bogey from Migdal and a bogey from Berkmeyer catapulted him into a playoff.

With the Jim Tom Blair Trophy on the line — named after an MU graduate and former Missouri governor — the Town and Country, Missouri, native defeated Berkmeyer by shooting even par in the four-hole aggregate playoff to win the tournament.

“The moment when I beat him was pretty great,” Siegfried said. “I felt like I had proven myself to play with good players and it definitely makes me want to win more.”

Closing in on a month until the 2015-16 season begins, Siegfried is ready to go after his “biggest” tournament win. His confident in his team isn’t lacking, either — Siegfried said the Tigers have what it takes to “be the best team in the nation.”

“I’m extremely excited to go represent my black and gold next year on the course,” Siegfried said. “It is very possible that we can get into the postseason this upcoming year and have a chance to win a national title.”