Byerson-Butler tees off as a Comet 

   Central Elgin Titan graduate heads to Olivet College on a golf scholarship

Wednesday, August 1, 2018

By Rob J. Ross 

ST. THOMAS -  Golf for Stephanie Byerson-Butler has gained more importance in a short period of time.

It was only two years ago that Byerson-Butler turned to golf to fill the void following her retirement from competitive figure skating.

Now the 18-year old who graduated from Central Elgin Collegiate Institute this June, is taking her clubs to Olivet College, a private NCAA Division III school, located just west of Detroit, Michigan. Byerson-Butler will join friend and fellow CECI graduate, Taylor Elley, on the Olivet Comets golf team.

Byerson-Butler will be studying environmental science. Being outside is what her education and sport share.

"I do enjoy the outdoors. I went hunting with my dad for the day and my mom didn't think I would like it at all. I loved it," said Byerson-Butler, who resides just north of Port Stanley. "Being outdoors all of the time I really enjoy it. I've taken an eye towards nature. It's really peaceful even though golf can be very stressful."

 At CECI, Byerson-Butler excelled at geography and the environmental management course.

Byerson-Butler researched schools online, before hearing about Olivet from Elley.

"I toured the school.  Their campus setup is like a small version of Western. It looks very historic with the buildings. It has a warm atmosphere" said Byerson-Butler. "I showed (Olivet golf coach Bill Maas) a couple videos of my swings. We talked about my game and he understands I'm fairly new to the sport. I have a lot to learn tournament wise but he stood up afterwards and said you got what I want and welcomed me to the team."

During her tour, Byerson-Butler met another local golfer, Nicole Deweyert, from Dorchester. They actually knew each other from their time skating.

Byerson-Butler had played golf briefly in her younger years.

"I played a round here and there when I was little, but I didn't start golfing every day, until about two summers ago. I used to be a competitive figure skater and I retired in April of 2016. After being busy for 40 plus hours per week, I didn't have anything to do. So that summer I started golfing and I really took to enjoying it and it gives me something to keep busy" Byerson-Butler said. "My parents (mom Kellie, step-dad Ben) wanted me to get in to golf, so it was to please them at first. Then I started to really enjoy it and I liked the feeling I got when I noticed my improvement in it. It gave me that challenge and something to work towards and that's what I really like to have in life."

Byerson-Butler skated for 13 years, split between Norwich, Port Stanley and the London Competitive Skating Association, out of Komoka.

During Grade 11, Byerson-Butler wrestled at CECI, but a knee injury prevented her from returning for Grade 12.

"I went to one practice and liked the fitness level of it" said Byerson-Butler of wrestling. "High intensity and it's pretty cool. I placed sixth at WOSSAA my first year. I was hoping to qualify for OFSAA this year, but my knee was bit of a block."

Chronic tendonitis has been a challenge for Byerson-Butler. It affected her performance during the 2017 WOSSAA girls' tournament.

Caused by continuous twisting and torqueing on her knee during her skating career, Byerson-Butler now wears orthotics and attends physio.

"WOSSAA was the peak of my knee injury. I wasn't getting any power from my back leg. It made it tough to swing."

During 2017, Byerson-Butler played five courses on the Tyson Tour, winning at Dorchester. For the high school season, Byerson-Butler advanced at WOSSAA.

One of Byerson-Butler's top moments of her young golf career, is similar to perhaps the most famous Tiger Wood's shot.

"I was playing in the Tyson Tour in Dorchester and on my last hole. It was a par three, but I messed up my tee shot. I was about 70 yards from the green. I took a hail mary shot with one of my lower irons and it bounced, rolled, hit the (flag) pole and it just sat for a moment before it dropped in. I birdied it" Byerson-Butler recalled. "I got one of my first birdies on that hole. That was a memorable moment after a long day."

Victories within her short game also stick with her.

"There has been a couple times where I've been given a tough putt and I struggle with my putts, so when I make a tough putt from like 10 feet away, those are memorable moments."

Byerson-Butler's game has grown much over the past two years and thanks goes to her parents and coach Grant Gulych.

"He's known me since I was a little girl. He has seen me grow up. He was pleased to hear when I told him I'm seriously golfing now and wanted him to be my coach."

Byerson-Butler had the opportunity to caddy for Gulych, at the World Golf Teacher's Association tournament, in Las Vegas, allowing her to meet coaches from around the globe.

Byerson-Butler is also grateful for her best friend, Taylor.

"I had a couple hard times last summer and she definitely helped me a lot to overcome some of the stuff and the mental blocks that you meet throughout the game."

The mental aspect of the sport continues to challenge Byerson-Butler.

"What goes on between my two ears. My biggest problem in tournaments is thinking. I can go out golfing with my parents and shoot really well. But to go and play with people I don't know, just the nerves of it gets me thinking. Sometimes thinking can be a good thing, but too much can damage your game."

 Byerson-Butler in a CTV News feature: Empower Fore Life

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Elley, from St. Thomas, who just finished her sophomore year, was named to the 2018 Women's Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) All-American Scholar team.

Deweryt, a graduate of Lord Dorchester Secondary school, is also on the All-Scholar team and is a two-time All Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) selection.