Preston Stanley was聽the solidifying force聽for the HCU men鈥檚聽golf program from聽2011-15 and was inducted聽into the school鈥檚 Sports聽Hall of Honor in 2020. The Katy, Texas, native posted a聽runner-up individual finish to lead the Huskies to the 2013聽America Sky Conference Championship and its first NCAA聽Championship appearance since 1988.
The quiet confidence that served Stanley so well in his聽time at HCU has brought him to the brink of a breakout聽professional career. In the summer, he qualified for his first聽PGA Tour event at the John Deere Classic outside Chicago.
鈥淚 was extremely excited, but at the same time I was聽overwhelmed,鈥� Stanley said. 鈥淭he next three hours (after聽I qualified) were hectic as all get out, trying to figure out聽where I was staying, getting a flight for my brother-in-law,聽Trey, who was going to caddy for me, and figuring out聽who all was going to be coming. When I qualified for the聽Korn Ferry Tour, I was super excited, but with this, it was聽different with everything that had to be done to get ready.鈥�
Stanley opened with a 1-over par 71 but rebounded with聽a 67 to make the cut in his first-ever PGA Tour start. He fired聽a 65 that Saturday, before closing with a 73 to tie for 51st,聽finishing ahead of former major winners Zach Johnson聽and two others who missed the cut 鈥� Lucas Glover and聽Webb Simpson. Stanley then qualified for the Barracuda聽Championship in July and once again made the cut.
鈥淥ne thing I took away from making the two cuts was I聽have the game to play on the PGA Tour and win,鈥� Stanley聽said. 鈥淚 just need more opportunities and a chance to get聽comfortable. I was nervous that first event, but I was hitting聽it well tee to green. I just wasn鈥檛 chipping and putting well.聽The next event, I was terrible all week, but I chipped and聽putted well and it was good enough to make the cut.鈥�
Under the modified scoring system, Stanley finished at聽+5, placing 71st.
鈥淚t was good to know that when I鈥檓 not at my best, I鈥檓聽good enough to play in a PGA event and still make the cut.鈥�
Stanley鈥檚 wife, Caitlyn (Cassity) Stanley, also played聽golf at HCU from 2011-15. She has caddied for him during聽his pro career, until welcoming their son, James Walker聽Stanley, in May.
鈥淐aitlyn and I set a goal of me trying to play for five or聽six more years and at the end of that, I was playing really聽good golf,鈥� Stanley said. 鈥淚t is great having someone who聽supports me and understands what I am doing. She聽doesn鈥檛 mind if I need to spend extra time on the course. I聽was so happy she was able to drive up to the John Deere聽Classic with our then-two-month-old son.鈥�
Caitlin鈥檚 brother, Trey Cassity (鈥�15), took over the caddy聽duties for Preston鈥檚 PGA Tour debut. Stanley鈥檚 sister-in-law,聽Grace (鈥�22), also played golf at HCU.
鈥淭he family aspect of our time at HCU is awesome,鈥澛燬tanley said. 鈥淲hen Caitlyn and I got out of school, we聽were dating. When Trey turned pro, I traveled with him and聽that was so much fun. He鈥檚 not playing as much now and聽he knows my game so well, so it is great for him to be with and that was so much fun. 聽Having my in-laws and my family both around me is聽a huge help. When they are at an event, off the course, I聽can be with them and spend time with them and it really聽helps me to relax.鈥�
Stanley is looking forward to the Houston Open qualifier聽on Nov. 7 and an opportunity that comes with playing in聽his home tournament.
鈥淨ualifying for the Houston Open would be a great聽accomplishment for me, obviously being in my聽hometown and having everyone out there to see me聽play,鈥� Stanley said. 鈥淚鈥檝e been able to play there a lot聽since the redesign, I really like the course and feel like I聽could make a run at it.鈥�
He knows there is not much separating him from playing聽on the PGA Tour full-time and continues to hone his game聽at his home course of Pine Forest.
鈥淚鈥檝e played with Charles Howell III, who has made over聽$40 million on the tour,鈥� Stanley said. 鈥淚 was hitting the聽ball every bit as good as he was, but he was getting up聽and down a little bit better than me. That鈥檚 the difference聽between success and not being on the PGA Tour.鈥�