Jakob Butturff, 8-time professional bowling champion, dies at 32

CHANDLER, Ariz. (KPHO/Gray News) — An eight-time Professional Bowlers Association Tour champion died unexpectedly this week.

The PBA announced the death of Jakob Butturff on Friday. He was 32 years old. No cause of death was immediately given.

Butturff was widely regarded as one of the most distinctive players in PBA history with the loving nickname “Butters.”

“Jakob was one of the most unique players in PBA history. Fans marveled at his delivery, as he rode a wave of strikes into becoming a top player in the sport,” PBA Commissioner Tom Clark said. “Jakob was kind, he was respectful, and he was a champion. He will never be forgotten.”

The 32-year-old burst onto the national scene during the 2016 season, winning his first two PBA Tour titles and dominating the PBA Regional Tour with a record nine titles. He earned both West Region and Northwest Region Player of the Year honors that year.

Butturff went on to amass 27 PBA Regional Tour titles and added Northwest Region Player of the Year awards in 2017 and 2018.

The Mesa Metro USBC Association said Butturff’s impact on the sport will continue.

“Jakob was not only one of the most talented bowlers in the world, but also a beloved friend, teammate, and inspiration to countless people throughout the bowling community,” the group wrote. “Jakob’s legacy will live on through the lives he touched and the memories he created. He will be deeply missed and never forgotten.”

Butturff was a seven-time member of Team USA. He won the 2017 QubicaAMF World Cup and helped Team USA capture multiple gold and silver medals on the international stage.

Fellow PBA Tour players also took to social media to mourn his loss.

“It ain’t supposed to be like this,” EJ Tackett shared. “It’s nothing short of soul-crushing. Butters was one of the guys that would give the shirt off his back for anyone in need and he showed that time and time again.

Jason Belmonte, widely considered one of the greatest bowlers of all time, offered a simple but powerful tribute: “The PBA has lost one of its kindest.”