Professional bowler Jakob Butturff died suddenly on Friday at the age of 32, the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) announced. The cause of death has not been disclosed.
PBA commissioner Tom Clark described Butturff as "one of the most unique players in PBA history." He added, "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."
Fellow bowler EJ Tackett shared his grief on social media, writing, "It ain't supposed to be like this. 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."
Butturff was an eight-time PBA Tour champion and won one major title, the 2019 USBC Masters. He made his debut on the PBA Tour in 2016, securing his first two titles and later winning a record nine PBA Regional Tour trophies.
He was also a seven-time member of Team USA, contributing to multiple gold and silver medal victories. In 2019, Butturff received an ESPY Award nomination.
Born and raised in Las Vegas, Butturff also lived in Phoenix, Arizona, and Binghamton, New York, according to the PBA. His last social media post was in March, celebrating a recent performance. In February, he posted a tribute to his girlfriend, Mya, on Valentine's Day, noting the difficulty of leaving her for tour.
