Finally healthy, Barrington’s Butler thriving on the links

For the first time in over a year, Bridget Butler’s golf game is her primary focus. The Barrington High School graduate doesn’t worry much about how her left leg feels, but more so her efficacy in driving, chipping and putting.

A torn ACL suffered in October 2023 didn’t fully recover until November 2024. The 20-year-old Butler didn’t swing a club for five months, but the rest and rehab paid dividends for the incoming sophomore at Stetson University. After winning the Illinois State Women’s Amateur Championship in June, Butler will compete in the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship, taking place Monday through Sunday in Bandon, Oreg.

“I’m just thankful to be playing in the same way I was before my injury,” Butler said. “Just being in a better physical state.”

A three-time all-Mid-Suburban League and all-regional selection at Barrington, Butler helped the team win the 2021 IHSA state championship and claimed the Class 2A Individual regional title the following year. Her injury cut short her senior season, and she redshirted her freshman year at Nebraska.

Butler called her time in Lincoln a “great experience” but admitted she struggled to compete with her talented teammates.

“I wasn’t fully there physically,” Butler said. “I’d still have to do rehab and work out and go to practice and do all the same things everyone else did on top of rehab. I was tired a lot, and I didn’t really feel like I had my game yet.”

Butler said she noticed her skills ramping up this spring, and taking the state crown this summer was a huge boost of confidence. She committed to golf as her only sport the summer before entering high school, and will now compete among the nation’s best at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort.

Perched on a bluff overlooking the Pacific, Bandon Dunes offers new challenges for Butler, who will play two practice rounds this weekend. After consulting with one of the club’s local caddies, Butler said she’ll focus on low-trajectory shots to successfully navigate the windy environment. The course also features tight lies, meaning shorter grass that will encourage longer putts rather than chipping onto the green.

Butler’s greatest strength in her game is approach shots around the green, but she’s also honing in on her weaknesses.

“You can always improve with everything,” Butler said. “But probably my tee shots. Last tournament I played, off the tee, I wasn’t too great.”

While a win in Oregon would significantly boost Butler’s national ranking, she’s also embracing the moment. Butler said when she initially focused on the sport, its individual nature made her feel lonely. But as she played more tournaments, meeting new people and making new friends, the golf course became even more enjoyable.

“First and foremost, it’s just to have fun,” Butler said. “It’s such a great experience just to be at Bandon Dunes and playing in the U.S. Amateur. I mean, it’s one of the highest stages in amateur golf.”