PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico – With the 9^th annual Colin Montgomerie Invitational fast approaching (March 4-5), former HCU men's golf star Preston Stanley is making a name for himself on the worldwide stage much like the Huskies' tournament namesake.

Earning his third career PGA Tour start after winning the Monday qualifier at Black Hawk Country Club in Richmond, Texas with a four-under par, 68, Stanley battled a grueling 82-player field mixed with former PGA Tour winners and current superstars ranking in the top-200 in the world. An 18-hole event, the qualifier saw temperatures in the upper 40's and wind gusts in the lower 20's to make for one of the highest scoring averages in Monday qualifying for the PGA Tour this year. Clearing the field by two-shots including five birdies and an eagle, Stanley solidified his attempt make another start on the big stage.

Stanley, a three-time all-conference honoree during his time with the Huskies, qualified for back-to-back PGA Tour events in the summer of 2022. At the 2022 John Deere Classic, Stanley fired an opening round one-over par, 72, at TPC Deere Run. With the dream of making the cut and cashing his first paycheck on the PGA Tour, Stanley carded a four-under par, 67, in the second round including six birdies and two bogeys to make the cut on the number and get in the clubhouse at three-under par. On moving day, the former All-America Sky Conference and first team All-Tournament honoree posted a bogey-free career-low six-under par, 65, finishing eagle-birdie on the 17^th and 18^th holes and tying his Husky career-low set at the 2013 Husky Invitational. With a final round two-over par, 73, Stanley finished in a tie for 51^st place.

Carrying the momentum from his inaugural PGA Tour event, Stanley qualified for the 2022 Barracuda Championship the following week. A 72-hole Stableford scoring format event played at Tahoe Mountain Club in Truckee, California, the Barracuda Championship hosted 154 of the top players in the world. Stanley shined, again making the cut on the number for a perfect two-for-two in PGA Tour cuts posting rounds of +6, +1, +1, -1 (Stableford format) for a +5 total and a 71^st place finish.

With his sights set on going a perfect three-for-three in cuts made on the PGA Tour, Stanley will battle the 132-player field consisting of 23 of the top-100 players in the official world golf rankings. The 7,456-yard, par 71, Vidanta Vallarta Course, located in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico creates a challenging test that will demand length off the tee and precision on approach. Hosting the Mexico Open for the past two years, Vallarta Course requires a seasoned golfer to grind their way to an influx of birdies in order to compete in the star-studded field. Stanley will hope to reminisce on his six top-5 finishes and 10 top-10 finishes over his four-year Husky career (2011-2015).

In his 17^th season as head coach of the Huskies, David Shuster expressed, "It was an honor to coach Preston and help mold him into the man he has become. From first recruiting him to the success he has had pursing professional golf, Preston has shown the passion and determination it takes to chase his dreams. His competitiveness and drive has proven he can compete on the big stage and the Husky family will be cheering him on."

The Mexico Open at Vidanta Vallarta Course will commence on Thursday, Feb. 22 and run through Sunday, Feb. 25^th. Stanley will play alongside PGA Tour veterans Jacob Bridgman and Mac Meissner for the first two-rounds, teeing off at 8:36 a.m. CST off of the first hole on Thursday, and 1:21 p.m. CST off of the 10^th hole on Friday.