From wire reports
Jakob Butturff died unexpectedly Friday at the age of 32.
His death, confirmed in a news release from the Professional Bowlers Association and circulated widely on social media, reportedly was from a heart attack.
Butturff was an eight-time PBA Tour champion, winning one major in the 2019 USBC Masters.
“Jakob was one of the most unique players in PBA history,” PBA commissioner Tom Clark said. “Fans marveled at his delivery, as he rode a wave of strikes into becoming a top player in the sport, capable of winning at any time, in any event.
“Jakob was kind, he was respectful, and he was a champion. He will never be forgotten. Our hearts are with all Butters touched on his one-of-a-kind journey.”
Butturff’s breakout came during the 2016 season.
He won his first two PBA Tour titles and dominated the PBA Regional Tour, winning a record nine titles and earning West Region and Northwest Region Player of the Year honors.
Butturff, a left-hander with a unique corkscrew delivery, amassed 27 PBA regional titles and added Northwest Region Player of the Year awards in 2017 and 2018.
During the 2019 PBA Tour season, Butturff finished as the runner-up in Chris Schenkel PBA Player of the Year voting.
He won three titles, including his signature major win in the 2019 USBC Masters, finished runner-up to Jason Belmonte in the PBA World Championship, and ranked second to Belmonte in points and earnings.
Butturff was a seven-time member of Team USA. He won the 2017 QubicaAMF World Cup and helped Team USA win multiple gold and silver medals.
He bowled the 28th televised 300 game in PBA history during the 2020 PBA Tour Finals.
Upon hearing the news, countless PBA Tour players expressed their sympathies to Butturff and his family on social media.
“It ain’t supposed to be like this,” wrote two-time Player of the Year EJ Tackett. “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. The bowling world lost today and it will never be the same. We all love you buddy. Until we meet again my friend.”
“Butters, I don’t even have the words right now, but just know you will be missed, loved, and always remembered!” wrote AJ Johnson, a Team USA teammate. “You had one of the biggest hearts and made everyone laugh! I love you Butters, now go give your mom the biggest hug you always gave us!”
“The PBA has lost one of its kindest,” Jason Belmonte wrote on social media.
“Yesterday, my bowling partner let me know he was going to hustle to make it to the Luci, but I could tell something wasn’t right. I had a feeling he wasn’t going to make it, so we went into partner-finding mode and were able to find someone else. I could tell he just wasn’t in a place to try and make it here,” Taylor Bulthuis said in a Facebook post.
“I told Jakob not to worry about trying to make it that I have a back up and he replied and I replied, ‘… Don’t worry about it, dude. Roster is updated. Take care of yourself, man. Thanks, feel better!’ His response was, ‘Well I still want you to bowl good tomorrow too.’
“I never could have imagined that would be our final conversation.”
Butturff also was known as an active participant in local tournaments during his down time from the PBA Tour.
Butturff was born and raised in Las Vegas, and also lived in Phoenix, Ariz. and Binghamton, N.Y.