Jakob Butturff, an eight-time PBA Tour champion known for his unmistakable corkscrew release, died unexpectedly on Friday, July 31, the Professional Bowlers Association announced. He was 32.
No official cause of death has been released. The PBA confirmed only that Butturff "died unexpectedly," and the organization has not shared further details.
Butturff, a Chandler, Arizona native, broke through in 2016 with his first two PBA Tour titles and a record nine PBA Regional Tour wins that same year, earning him West Region and Northwest Region Player of the Year honors. He went on to win a major title at the 2019 USBC Masters and represented Team USA seven times, helping the squad claim gold and silver medals internationally, including a win at the 2017 QubicaAMF World Cup. Over his career, he collected 27 PBA Regional Tour titles and rolled one of only 35 televised perfect games in PBA history.
PBA Commissioner Tom Clark remembered Butturff as one of the tour's most distinctive players. "Jakob was kind, he was respectful, and he was a champion," Clark said in a statement, adding that he would "never be forgotten."
Fellow pros flooded social media with tributes following the announcement. Multiple competitors described him as one of the most generous and well-liked figures on tour, recalling both his talent on the lanes and his character off them.
Butturff was considered on track for eventual induction into the PBA Hall of Fame. His family has not released a statement regarding funeral arrangements.
JubileeCast extends prayers and condolences to Jakob Butturff's family, friends, and the entire bowling community during this time of loss.
