Everyone has one question that precedes him or her wherever they go in life. Senior golfer Byron Firestone has faced the same question his entire life: Are you related?
“Yes, I am related to Firestone Tires,” he said. “My great-grandfather’s uncle, Harvey Firestone, started the company. But he sold it many years ago, so my family no longer has any connection to the company but the name.”
The question will follow Firestone around for his entire life. But that is not the only thing destined to stick with him from birth. He was named for Byron Nelson, a five-time PGA major tournament champion. It’s almost as if it was decided that golf was his sport before he was born.
“My grandfather gave me my first golf club when I was 3 years old,” he said. “I would take the little wooden club to Oakwood Country Club in Canton. That’s where I started.”
But like most athletic boys, Byron played the “staple” sports growing up in his hometown, Canton. Along with golf, he also played football, basketball and baseball. In eighth grade, he decided to cut out football and baseball from his athletic menu. His main focus became golf, and not everyone was too thrilled.
“It was hard to tell the football coach that I, being 240 pounds at the time, wasn’t going to play football. But I didn’t have the mentality for football,” he said. “I definitely made the right decision, I think.”
Looking at Firestone now, it would be hard to believe he was ever 240 pounds. His coach, Bob Cooley, attributes this to his work ethic.
“Byron is very committed. He works at his game every day and never gives up,” Cooley said. “An example is how he committed himself to losing weight. Not only did he lose the weight, he’s kept it off. He eats right and works out, I believe that that goes a long way in how he plays.”
Byron’s choice led him to a stellar high school career. As a senior at Jackson High School, he helped his high school reach the state championship in 2008.
That year, Byron also won the Division I Stark County Golfer of the Year award.
His performance earned him offers to play golf from numerous colleges.
“I visited at least seven colleges, but none felt as good as Ohio,” he said. “When I came to Athens, it had everything I was looking for. I love it here.”
Though this is Firestone’s last year in Athens, he doesn’t think his golf career will be over after this season ends.
Byron always wanted to play professional golf, but has decided more recently to secure a livelihood before attempting to go pro.
Firestone, a senior studying finance, hopes to work for and eventually start his own financial advising firm.
“Byron is the picture of a student athlete,” Cooley said. “He works just as hard in the classroom as he does on the course. He’s the kind of kid coaches would want an entire team of.”
Byron’s goal for this season, outside of helping the team win its 19th Mid-American Conference championship, is winning the tournament that bears his name.
“I really would love to win the tournament at Firestone. The tournament is like a homecoming for me, not to mention it’s played on the course named after my family,” he said.
tj790511@ohiou.edu
