BUTLER TWP — Longtime Butler High School golf coach Hank Keller died eight years ago.

His teachings are still being passed on — consciously or not — by Butler County Community College freshman golfer Anthony Lewis.

A 2010 Butler graduate, Lewis was a junior on the Golden Tornado golf team when Keller passed away.

“I learned a lot from Coach Keller,” Lewis said. “He was great at keeping my mental game in check. When I'd get frustrated with my game, Hank knew how to calm me down. He did that with everyone.

“He also taught me a trick for when my ball was stuck under a tree or in a tough lie. He showed me how to use a 5- or 7-iron, have the ball lined up with my back foot, then hit down on the ball. I use that trick to this day.”

It's paid off for him — and for the BC3 golf team.

Lewis, 26, graduated from Duquesne University in 2014 with a major in psychology. He then spent just over a year in Japan, teaching English.

Once he came back, he had interest in pursuing a masters and extending his education.

Enter BC3.

“I figured I could get a two-year degree there in computer programming,” Lewis said. “I played volleyball in high school, explored that as a possible sport here, and saw they had a golf team.”

Pioneer coach Bill Miller was happy to have him.

“Anthony has been a great addition,” Miller said. “He hits the ball 240 to 250 yards steadily off the tee, sometimes 290 or 300.

“He is a consistent player who doesn't get himself in trouble. He gets the ball on the fairways and hits the green.”

Lewis didn't exactly start out that way.

“I was late coming out for the team,” he said. “I only made it to one practice. I rolled my first shot off the tee and hit my second shot into the water.

“It was pretty embarrassing, actually,” he said, laughing.

His play has radically changed since then.

Lewis averaged 81.3 for 18 holes during the regular season, then carded rounds of 77 and 74 to earn medalist honors at the Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference tourney at The Links at Spring Church.

He became BC3's first individual conference champion since Knoch graduate Chris Kier claimed the title in 2014.

“A lot of guys who shoot a good first round in that tournament don't do as well the next day because they had time to think about it,” Miller said. “It gets in their head a little bit.

“Anthony comes back the next day and shoots three strokes better.”

There's that calming influence of Keller again.

“Definitely,” Lewis admitted. “I try to pass that along to the other guys on the team, too. If you hit a bad shot early, it's like, 'Hey, it's only one shot. There are 16 holes to go.'”

During his four years at Duquesne and his time in Japan, Lewis continued to play golf. What he missed was competitive play.

“I did a few scrambles, but those are pretty laid back,” he said. “I usually played golf with my dad or by myself.

“The advantage of playing alone is you can hit two or three balls from the same spot, work on some shots ... I was able to improve my game that way.”

The state tournament scheduled for last weekend was canceled as not enough teams committed to playing. Lewis and his Pioneer teammates will be back in the spring, though, for the Region XX and NJCAA season.

The NJCAA Division III national tourney is slated for June in New York.

“I like the quality of our team,” Miller said. “We could have a big spring. We're going down to the indoor facility on Neville Island a few times in January and February to hone our swings.”

Lewis will be there. He says he'll be back next year as well.

“He is one focused kid,” Miller said. “He doesn't get rattled. You can never tell by looking at him whether he birdied or bogeyed.”

“I enjoy playing on this team,” Lewis said. “They've been nice to me and I've been nice to them. Anyway I can help, I want to. They're a good group of guys.”