INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Mizzou Women's Golf senior Michelle Butler (Dunedin, Fla.) was named a nominee for the 2016 NCAA Woman of the Year, it was announced Tuesday. The award honors graduating female student-athletes who have exhausted eligibility and distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in academics, athletics, service and leadership.
There are a total of 517 candidates for the award, the most in 26-year history of the honor. Butler is one of 231 NCAA Division I nominees.
Each year, the NCAA encourages member schools to honor its top graduating female student-athlete. Then, conferences assess member schools assess nominees and select up to two conference nominees. The Woman of the Year selection committee – made up of representatives from the NCAA membership – will then choose the top 30 honorees with 10 from each division.
"Michelle is one of those dynamic student-athletes that has made such an impact on our program over her five years with the team," head coach Stephanie Priesmeyer said. "She has been a special teammate, student and friend to all the people that she had contact with while representing the University of Missouri and our golf program. It will be tough to replace her spirit, enthusiasm, smile, laugh and hugs when she no longer is part of our team next fall. Not only was she our No. 1 player on the course this year, she was the person everyone turned to for advice and inspiration. It was an honor and our privilege to have the opportunity to coach her."
Butler concluded her Mizzou career in record fashion in 2015-16, recording the lowest individual season stroke average (72.59) in program history. She earned second-team All-SEC recognition after posting two second-place individual finishes. During the fall slate, Butler tied for eighth nationally with 49 birdies. She set a program record with a 65 (-7) in the second round of the Johnie Imes Invitational at Columbia's The Club at Old Hawthorne on Sept. 28, 2015. It was the fourth-lowest round of any NCAA Division I golfer during the fall season.
On May 13, Butler graduated with a bachelor's degree in Biochemistry. She is currently pursuing a professional golf career with future plans to attend medical school.
Butler overcame a myriad of obstacles during her Tigers career. As a freshman, she suffered a fractured wrist that forced her to sit out of competition. She also experienced temporary paralysis as a result of complications from mononucleosis. Furthermore, she became the power of attorney for her mother in Florida, who suffers from multiple sclerosis and dementia.
"My time at Mizzou gave me another family I could never replace," Butler said. "I had so many unforgettable experiences with my teammates, coaches, athletics staff members, classmates and professors that helped shape my life today. I had an amazing college experience at Mizzou and couldn't be more thankful for the opportunity I was given to grow and succeed. I am honored to be Mizzou Made and Columbia will always be my second home."
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