Butturff shines with Kenn-Feld victory

COLDWATER - Just 24 years old, Jakob Butturff has made an impact on the professional bowling tour.

The Chandler, Arizona, native won his fourth career national title and second of the season in capturing the Kenn-Feld Group Classic at Pla-Mor Lanes on Sunday afternoon.

A dominating start mixed in with struggles by runner-up Tom Daugherty gave Butturff the $10,000 first prize check.

"This is, by far, one of the most difficult (lanes) I've bowled on this year," said Butturff. "I think that makes the win a little bit better. You have some of the best bowlers, including a couple of international bowlers (one from England and one from South Africa) and know the cut is minus (bowling under average) and still coming out here, you know you can come out on top against the top bowlers."

Butturff survived the two-day, 17-game qualifying process as the top seed with a total pinfall of 3,709, six more than second seed Daugherty. That allowed Butturff to go right to the championship match as the stepladder semifinals brought out the challenger.

The first semifinal was a battle to the end as third seed and defending champ Rhino Page bowled six straight strikes to end with a 225 game. Fourth-seed Brad Angelo needed two strikes and an eight in the 10th frame to get the win, and he proceeded to roll three strikes to take a 228-225 victory.

Angelo started the second semfinal against Daugherty with two straight strikes but then had two straight open frames (where a bowler does not record a strike or spare). The second occured when Angelo was unable to pick up a 4-6-7-10 split. Later Angelo was unable to pick up a 6-7-10 split. Daugherty took the lead with strikes in the sixth through ninth frames and then closed out with a 9-spare and a strike in the 10th to advance to the final with a 226-188 win.

Daugherty started the title match with a spare and a strike, but Butturff rolled four straight strikes before getting a 9-spare in the fifth. Daugherty had four strikes and three spares through the first seven frames, but only got six on his first ball of the eighth frame and managed just three pins on the second for an open. The struggles continues as Daugherty bowled 9-0 in both the ninth and 10th frames to finish with a 182.

Butturff overcame an open in the seventh frame to go an 8-spare in the eighth, a strike in the ninth and a 6-spare and a strike in the 10th to finish with a 217 to easily win.

"I never expected him to mis the five pin (in the eighth frame). With how difficult the lanes were, nothing surprised me," said Butturff. "For me, it was a matter of getting past the nerves to get a shot in the ninth. I tugged one in the 10th and did the math and saw I only needed three (pins). When I need to, when I hook (the ball), I know I can get three out of that."