Former St. X teammates playing PGA event at the course they grew up playing

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- There are eight players with Kentucky ties playing in this week's PGA ISCO Championship. It was moved from the Lexington area to Hurstbourne Country Club this year. But it is really coming home for a pair of Louisville natives, Brendon Doyle and Stephen Stallings, Jr.

Stallings said he's played Hurstbourne Country Club too many times to count. Doyle said maybe one hundred times. Whatever the number, both will be counting this week's rounds at Hurstbourne as among their most special.

They used to walk the fairways there as kids, 11, 12 years old with thoughts of playing pro golf someday. They never really imagined they'd get to play a PGA Tour event at the course they grew up playing.

"It definitely is a dream," said Doyle. "To be able to play my first PGA tour event in Louisville is pretty cool and I'll have some family out there this week and it will be a lot of fun."

"I had a lot of fun in Lexington but it's so much cooler to be playing here," said Stallings. "I don't know. It's kind of sentimental too. At times I'm just like in shock. It's pretty cool."

Doyle and Stallings continued to play together in high school, graduating a year apart at St. Xavier. Doyle then played at IU, Stallings at UK. Both have been playing as professionals for the last seven years, mostly just below the big tour.

They will both have plenty of support this week, trying to keep expectations reasonable.

"Really just to enjoy it," said Doyle. "Embrace the nerves of it all and just to have fun. My goal is to have a good attitude all week and if I can do that I know I can compete and play well. So really just taking it one shot at a time."

"I'm just trying to enjoy the week, go shot by shot and see what happens," said Stallings. "Being a home event there's just a lot going on. I think I can play well this week but I'm just focusing on the next shot."

"Here at this stage at this golf course in Louisville, it's pretty cool," Doyle added. "So I'm just very lucky."

There will be three other St. Xavier grads in the field this week. Daniel Iceman was already in on, also on a sponsor's exemption and two other former Tigers qualified Monday. Cooper Musselman, who played with Doyle and Stallings at St. X and with Stallings at UK and Doyle's younger brother Drew.

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