By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Just over 10 years have passed since Scott Stallings played his final collegiate round as a member of the Tennessee Tech golf team, a runner-up showing at the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament in 2007.
Now in his seventh year on the PGA Tour, the two-time OVC Golfer of the Year is in the midst of one of the better runs in his professional career. Stallings has placed in the top five in each of his past two events, tying for fifth at the John Deere Classic on July 16 and tying for third at the Barbasol Championship on July 23.
"Golf is such a difficult sport," TTU head golf coach and former teammate of Stallings explained. "The stability that he's had out there during his career is extremely difficult to achieve. It has been awesome to see someone who is a product of Tennessee Tech make it to the level he has and continue to experience success. The current run he is on now just makes it that much more exciting."
After making the cut in five of his previous six events, which included a top-20 showing at the AT&T Byron Nelson, Stallings dialed in to a whole different level at the John Deere Classic. He carded a 71 for even-par in round one before firing off back-to-back, 7-under 64s to head into the final day in a tie for second place.
Stallings never bogeyed in rounds two or three, and, following a birdie chip-in on hole number eight in the final round, took over the lead with 10 to play. He would finish the round at 1-under and tied for fifth overall, just three strokes back of the winner, Bryson DeChambeau.
One week later, the all-time Golden Eagle record holder in multiple categories made history at the Barbasol Championship. After making the cut with rounds of 2-under 68 and 6-under 65, he flipped a switch to reach a whole new level of play for his career.
In the third round of play at Grand National (part of the RTJ Trail), Stallings exploded for a PGA Tour career-best, 11-under 60. The incredible performance shot the Knoxville, Tenn. native into first place while tying the course record and breaking the tournament's 54-hole scoring record at 19-under 194. He capped the event by shooting even-par in the final round, tying for third place just two strokes back of eventual winner Grayson Murray.
Stallings' entire career, not to mention his recent play, proves to be the model for what Brown looks for when recruiting for the next batch of Tennessee Tech golfers.
"His success is just a testament to his hard work, which is something that we look for in new players," Brown said. "His recent performances are great for him and for his family, but they also serve well for the University and our program. Up-and-comers that know who he is on the Tour can look and see that he played collegiately here in Cookeville, which can only help us out. In a way, he's marketing Tennessee Tech golf every time he steps on a golf course."
On the year, Stallings boasts six top-25 finishes and three top-10 finishes. He will hit the links once again starting Thursday, July 27 at the RBC Canadian Open.
Photo by TTU Sports Information
