CHICAGO DISTRICT GOLF ASSOCIATION

“This is my first tournament in 11 months, since I redshirted at Nebraska,” said Butler of her recent time away. “So it means a lot, this win. I worked on my swing a lot, putting and chipping - my whole game. I really focused on my short game and wedges.”

Playing together in Wednesday’s final group, Butler began the round two shots shy of Sayyalinh. She quickly closed that gap, snagging birdies on The Grove’s first and second holes as Sayyalinh dropped shots with bogies on each. Butler’s consistent start featured her “looking for fairways and greens to give myself good looks.”

“Yeah, it was really important,” said Butler of the bounce-back pars after the double bogey. “I wasn't trying to get aggressive and make a birdie again. I was just playing for par.”

As Butler dropped a shot on the par-3 11th, Myers and Sayyalinh would seize the opportunity with birdies on No. 11 (Myers) and 12 (Sayyalinh). The final group was tied at the top with six holes to play for the State title.

Enter that competitive pressure.

“I had no idea where I stood - I don’t like to look at a leaderboard,” said Butler. “I had a feeling it was close. I definitely felt the pressure and just tried to stay calm throughout.”

She may have felt the pressure internally, but certainly didn’t show it. Aided with steady pars on Nos. 13 and 14, a lengthy birdie putt on the par-5 15th was followed with a red figure on No. 16. When asked about both putts afterwards, Butler replied confidently, “I just knew they were going to go in.”

With Sayyalinh, the Southern Illinois junior, and Myers, an incoming freshman at the University of Illinois, both playing their final six holes at 1 over, Butler secured the three-shot victory with routine pars at Nos. 17 and 18. While she looks forward to her upcoming redshirt season at Stetson University, her focus will now shift to another, even bigger competitive outlet - the 2025 U.S. Women’s Amateur, slated for Bandon Dunes in Bandon, Oregon, Aug. 4-10. Butler’s State Women’s Am title earned her an automatic exemption into this year’s event, giving her even more opportunity to test her game.

“It was definitely on my mind throughout the tournament,” said Butler of the exemption. “I was just trying to stay calm and focus on the shot.”

As she sets her eyes on the West Coast, locally, the 2025 CDGA Championship schedule continues next week. The Association’s oldest championship, the CDGA Amateur, will head to Briarwood Country Club in Deerfield for its 105th iteration, June 23-26.