Pictured Are: Ben Crane Of Flipside, Jakob Butturff, And Barry Smith Of FlipSide
Jakob Butturff, Of Chandler, Wins His Fourth PBA Regional Title At FlipSide Lanes in Gilbert.
His Weekend Included A Perfect Game On Saturday, And A 7-10 Split Conversion On Sunday.
By Michael 'Chip" Begg- Managing Editor the tenpinexpress.com-Director Mesa Metro Association
Gilbert - - - After 408 games of qualifying were rolled on Saturday July 2, by the 51 bowlers who entered the PBA FlipSide Flipin Awsome Bowling Classic at FlipSide Lanes in Gilbert, to cut the field to the 12 semi-finalist.
After another 132 games of match play were rolled on Sunday July 3, to cut the field again, from the 12 semi-finalist to the six who made the final cut. Six more match play position round games were rolled to determine who would become champion of the event.
And, at 2 p.m., it should come as no surprise to those who were in attendance to watch the event from start to finish. That Jakob Butturff, of Chandler, would be the one who would claim the title.
While the rest of us in Arizona were celebrating the 4th of July weekend, it was the like-a-ble lefty who was providing the fireworks display at FlipSide. Just by watching Jakob bowl in the qualifying round, one could tell it was in fact, his tournament to win from start to finish.
"It feels good to win at home in front of the individuals who supported you, and have had your back," he said, in a post tournament interview. It was also his fourth regional win of the year. "It was one of the strongest fields I've bowled in this year. With: Josh Blanchard, Stu Williams, and Mike Haugen Jr., bowling in the event, it provided stronger competition for me. They all have won national titles, and it helps we are all good friends off of the lanes, too."
In the qualifying round, Jakob rolled games of: 268, 213, 214, 246, 300, 289, 239, and 181. He was the number one seed going into match play on Sunday at +350. He averaged 243.75 on the 43-foot PBA Chameleon pattern. His total pin fall was 1,950.
"I practiced on the pattern during our practice session on Friday, to figure the oil pattern out," he said, of his qualifying round. "You have got to figure out the lanes as quickly as you can, and that is mostly what it comes down to being successful in bowling."
The perfect game that Jakob rolled during the qualifying round, was his fourth on the regional tour. It was one of two perfect games that were rolled during the tournament. Kevin Jenkins, of Anthem, rolled the second one during match play on Sunday. Both games were rolled on lanes 23 and 24. Mr.Jenkins finished third in the event at +913. He was left-handed also.
In match play, Jakob went 8-4-0 and faced Mike Haugen Jr., (9-3-0) in the finals. Even though he lost the match to Mike, he was still far enough ahead to secure the title. Jakob got another surprise during the match, when he converted the 7-10 split in the second frame. Mike finished the event at +923.
"Bowling a 300 game in a PBA regional, is still a good thing to accomplish," he said. "I am still in single digits when it comes to 300 games on the regional tour. I was a little surprised I converted the 7-10. Especially, since I have picked up the big four, four times. This is the first time in 22 years, in picking up the 7-10, it has finally paid off for me."
And what about his match against Mike Haugen?
"I was in a comfort zone in my match against Michael," he said. "And I didn't want to give my comfort zone up."
Since getting his PBA card last August, the 2015-16 season, will go down as a very memorable year for him. It began when he became the youngest bowler to win the New Mexico Open at Ten Pins and More in Rio Rancho. In addition to his win at FlipSide, his other three regional wins came at: the West/Northwest Winter Classic Presented by Storm in January, a PBA Member/Non Member doubles event at South Point in March. And, during a swing in Hawaii, from April 24 - May 1, he won the opening event at Schofield Air Force Base. He followed it up with a sixth-place finish at Fort Shaffer in Honolulu, and a third place finish at Hickam AFB. And, he just recently won his first national title in Lubbock,Texas.
"I feel like I am on top of the world, after my first national tour win," he said, of the Lubbock title. "That win was the turning point of my life, and not just for this season. I am not ready to sum up the 2015-16 season yet, because we are still in July. I have had a lot of success in bowling since I got my PBA card last year, and I hope it can continue."
So does everyone else in the State of Arizona, but there is one big thing that he still wants to achieve.
"Getting a TV title on ESPN, would be a cool thing to accomplish," he said. "I bowled on TV once (the GEICO PBA World Series of Bowling VII, presented by Silver Legacy), and I was nervous. But, I eventually settled down. I am treating bowling as my full-time job now. And, going into every tournament with the attitude of never backing down and never giving up."
James Cantere of Honolulu, and Chris Arcaro of Wilmington, NC., traveled the farthest to bowl in the event, and placed fourth an fifth respectively at +780 and +763.
The State of Arizona was also represented well in the top 12. Josh Blanchard, was sixth at +760; Dave Cirigliano, seventh +698; Andrew Cain, ninth +680; John Conaway, 10 +619; Stu Williams, 11th +568; and Kyle King 12th +410. Gregory Thompson Jr., of Dublin, Cal., took eighth at +686.
"I was happy with the turnout for this event," said PBA Western Regional Director Gary Mage, who along with his wife Toni, ran the tournament. "The scores were good. FlipSide is a high friction bowling center, which means, the ball here hooks more and that creates good scores."
It cost members $220 and non-members $285 to bowl in the tournament. The field also attracted five females.
"All five of the ladies were good bowlers, and we had one that cashed (Correen Lieber, of Phoenix)," he said. "In 2006, Missy Parkin was the first ever female member to win a PBA event. She is currently out on the PWBA tour bowling."
As the director of the PBA Northwest Region also, Mr.Mage has about 400 members between both regions.
It has been a good summer for the PBA in Arizona. Two PBA 50 events were held in Flagstaff and Sun City. The western region will return to Mesa in August.
Arizona State Bowling News July 7, 2016