Pictured Above: Is Jacob Butturff, Of Chandler, Arizona.
Lefty Is Looking Forward To Accomplishing Bigger And Better Things On The Lanes In 2017.
His Year In 2016, Included Winning A Record Nine Western Regional Titles+Two National Tour Stops.
By Michael 'Chip' Begg - Managing Editor - thetenpinexpress.com - Director Mesa Metro Association.
Mesa - - - If Jacob Butturff, of Chandler, every had any doubts about whether or not he would be a successful competitor on the PBA Tour. All that he had to do was look back to August of 2015.
That's because he defeated Francois Lavoie, 481-391. And at age 21, became the youngest bowler ever to win the New Mexico Open at Tenpins and More in Rio Rancho in the double elimination event.
It was his first actual taste at the New Mexico Open, of what the actual competition would be like on the western regional and main tours. And 16 months later, he doesn't have any more doubts about whether or not he would be a successful competitor on the PBA Tour. Now, neither does anyone else in the State of Arizona who follows bowling on a regular basis.
At the conclusion of 2016, it would end up being a banner year for him on the lanes. A year in which he set a record for winning the most regional titles during the course of a calendar year at nine. And adding two national titles for good measure.
"I would consider 2016 to be a very successful year for me on the PBA Tour, and I wanted to improve on my performance from last year," he said, during a recent interview at Brunswick Zone in Mesa. This past year I was not expecting to win on the regional tour nine times. It is very hard to repeat out there as a champion. I am very happy with what I was able to accomplish last year."
Jakob won his first national tour title earlier this year at the PBA Xtra Frame Lubbock Sports Open, in Lubbock, Texas. And his second PBA title at the PBA Xtra Frame South Point Las Vegas Open.
In Las Vegas, he led the field following the 32 game qualifying round. And, after the match play round by 448 pins. During the match play round, he won 14 of 16 matches.
In the championship finals match, he struck on his first ten shots to post a 277-211 victory over Anthony Simonsen.
"After I won my first national title in Lubbock, and my second national title in Las Vegas," he said. "It showed that I could win a couple of times out on the national tour, and it proved to others that I was not a one hit wonder. I felt like I was on top of the world. after my first national tour win in Lubbock. That win was the turning point of my life, and not just for this season."
The first of his nine PBA Western Regional titles came at the West/Northwest Classic presented by Storm in January. Followed up with a PBA Member/Non Member doubles title event at South Point in March. And during a swing in Hawaii, from April 24-May 1, he won the opening event a Schofield Air Force Base.
He would end up getting his first win in front of the home folks, in the FlipSide Flippin Awesome Bowling Classic during the July 4th weekend. He defeated Mike Haugen Jr., for the title. It would then be his fourth.
"It feels good to win at home in front of the individuals who supported you, and have had your back," he said, following the win. "The FlipSide event was one of the strongest fields I've bowled in this year. With: Josh Blanchard, Stu Williams, and Mike Haugen Jr., bowling in that event, it provided stronger competition for me. They all have won national titles themselves, and it helps we are all good friends off of the lanes, too."
His win at FlipSide during the course of the weekend, also included rolling a perfect game on Saturday. And picking up a 7-10 split conversion on Sunday.
"Bowling a 300 game in a PBA regional, is still a good thing to accomplish," he said. "I was a little surprised I converted the 7-10 split. 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 split. It has finally paid off for me."
His last and record breaking western regional title victory, came at Rocklin, Ca., on November 20. He went 9-3 in match play. According to PBA records, Mike Scroggins of Amarillo, Texas won eight PBA Regional in 1999.
"It felt like there was some sort of spark that was lighting me up, and there was some sort of explosion that was going off inside of me," he said, of his record breaking nine regional victories. "You don't realize it did happen until the end of the year, and at 22 years old, I also became part of bowling history."
As a competitor out on the PBA Tour, he is also introduced to many different oil patterns. He says he has been successful on the PBA 43-foot Chameleon pattern. The regional event at FlipSide, used the Chameleon pattern where he averaged 243.75 during the course of the weekend.
"I get to practice on the patterns we use, during our practice sessions on Friday, to figure the oil pattern out," he said, of the different patterns the PBA uses. "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.
"I learned quite a bit bowling on different lane conditions last year. And when you are bowling against the best out on tour, it's a lot different than bowling in a league," he added. "Averaging between 205-210 every week is a hard thing to accomplish. There are no give me's out their either."
There is one major goal he would still like to achieve in the game of bowling.
"Getting a TV title on ESPN, would be a cool thing to accomplish. I bowled on TV once (in the Geico PBA World Series of Bowling VII, presented by Silver Legacy), and I was nervous," he said, of bowling on TV. "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."
Will McPherson currently holds the Arizona State Men's scoring record with an 898 series. His games of 300-299-299 were rolled at Brunswick Zone Gilbert. Jakob, during league play in the High Society League. Rolled back-to-back perfect games in March at Brunswick Via Linda Lanes in Scottsdale, and finished the evening with a 847 series.
"I will continue to put my passion for bowling out there on display in the upcoming year. I will also continue to make good shots, and never give up," he said, of the upcoming year. "I have been close to rolling a 900 series a couple of times.
"The less you think about rolling a 900 series, the more the thought of actually doing it comes back to you," he added. "During the FlipSide regional, I rolled 29 strikes in-a-row. By being able to keep up with other bowlers, it also helps build up your confidence."
Jakob was also a product of the JBT, and won 32 titles. He attended ASU for one year, and has one year of collegiate bowling under his belt as well.
"Bowling in college for that one year," he says. "Changed my mindset about the game in the best possible way."
Arizona State Bowling News - December 30, 2016