By Jody Demling -- Louisville Courier Journal

NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. -- Tyler Sharpe is not playing the best golf of his life, but he'll still walk into Champion Trace Golf Club on Tuesday morning with a swagger.

Sharpe, 25, will start his defense of the biggest victory in his short career: the AT&T Kentucky State Amateur Championship.

"It's really a good feeling to come back as the defending champion," Sharpe said. "I know it's not going to help me this week, but it's still such a good feeling, and I think it does ease a little bit of the pressure off me."

Sharpe will be one of 156 players in the field for the 95th State Am. He'll tee off No.1 at 9:30a.m. with Jesse Massie of Louisville and Andy Roberts of Owensboro.

But this time, a lot of eyes will be on Sharpe.

A former Lindsey Wilson College player, Sharpe flew way under the radar last year. He's a native of Greensburg and wasn't a recognized name in the state's golf scene until his magical three-day run.

"I do feel like I get a lot more respect from my peers now," Sharpe said. "It makes some people that I don't even know a lot nicer."

Sharpe played in last year's State Am at the Country Club of Paducah just a month after his father had a mild heart attack. He works at his father's sawmill in Green County and wasn't working as much as his father recuperated.

The time off meant he was "practicing as much as I could," and his game was in good form.

After two rounds of 70, Sharpe fired a 71 in the final round and made a birdie on the 18th hole to hold off Paducah's Rick Cochran for the title.

"I was ready and confident and had no excuses," Sharpe said. "My father wanted me practicing hard every day and pushed me."

Sharpe said his dad has been pushing him a long time.

"My father started playing golf a couple of years before I was born, and I grew up at the golf course," said Sharpe, who started playing at Green County Country Club. "I was there all the time, from the time I was old enough to be there by myself. I was out there first thing in the morning until dark."

Sharpe, who has a 4-year-old son, Briley, said he hasn't put as much time into his game this year. But he's recently spent a little time trying to hone his skills.

"I play a lot in the afternoons, unless my son has a tee-ball game," Sharpe said. "I think my game is starting to come around."

With three other past champions and a bevy of college-aged standouts in the field, Sharpe knows it's not going to be easy to repeat. Eric Mason was the last player to repeat in the State Am, in 2000 and 2001.