Butturff sets 10-game record, takes overall lead at 2026 USBC Masters
March 26, 2026
Jakob Butturff of Tempe, Arizona, smiles on the approach at Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park, Michigan, on Wednesday after establishing a new mark for the highest opening 10-game qualifying score at the USBC Masters (2,485). That effort has the 2019 champion leading the 2026 Masters heading into Thursday's final five-game qualifying block.
FULL RESULTS
ALLEN PARK, Michigan – The United States Bowling Congress Masters is a tournament with a long, rich history. As such, any time a competitor manages to accomplish something that’s never been done before, it’s a noteworthy achievement to say the least.
On Wednesday, Jakob Butturff of Tempe, Arizona, entered his name in the tournament’s record books by posting the highest score through the first 10 games of qualifying in Masters history.
The 31-year-old left-hander did so by following up the 1,252 five-game score he authored during Round 1 on Tuesday with a 1,233 effort on Wednesday. That ran his two-day, 10-game total to 2,485 (a 248.5 average), which topped the previous mark of 2,479 put up by Darren Tang of Las Vegas (2017) and Jim Pencak of Mayfield Heights, Ohio (1992).
In addition to the record, the effort also gave Butturff the overall lead heading into Thursday’s final round of qualifying at the 2026 USBC Masters, which is being contested at Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park, Michigan.
Opening-round leader Deo Benard of Roanoke, Texas, who put up the second-highest five-game block score in Masters history (1,309) during Round 1 on Tuesday, was solid again on Day 2, posting 1,139 to secure second place overall with 2,448.
Jesper Svensson of Sweden was third with 2,416 while Canada’s Graham Fach (2,413) and Killian Kilpatrick of Erie, Pennsylvania (2,386), also landed in the top five at the conclusion of Round 2.
David “Boog” Krol of Springfield, Missouri, used a 300 during Game 2 on Wednesday to post 1,123 for the day and 2,220 overall, which moved him into 37th place.
Nevertheless, the most important position is No. 63 because that is likely to be the lowest any athlete can be in the standings at the conclusion of Thursday’s final five-game qualifying block to advance to match play.
That’s because defending champion Gary Haines of Babylon, New York, is guaranteed a spot in the Masters’ 64-player, double-elimination match-play bracket regardless of his qualifying position.
Haines has the opportunity to improve his seed during qualifying; however, if he finishes outside the top 63, he’ll be the No. 64 seed.
With five games of qualifying remaining, Haines sits tied for 180th place at 2,069. As such, it’s likely he’ll be utilizing the champion’s berth, which would keep the player in 64th place at the end of Round 3 on the outside looking in.
The athlete currently residing in 63rd place in the 390-player field is Mason Edmondson of Amarillo, Texas, who reached that position thanks to a two-day, 10-game mark of 2,177 (a 217.7 average).
While Edmondson and those closest to him will be staring at the cut line on Thursday, Butturff will be eyeing the No. 1 seed for match play.
It certainly wouldn’t be a surprise if he were to attain it; after all, through the first 10 games, nobody has tamed the 41-foot 2026 Masters oil pattern better than Butturff.
The 2019 Masters champ was steady while taking on the fresh on Wednesday, posting scores of 224, 246, 207, 298 and 258.
That was nearly as impressive as the marks of 213, 225, 268, 288 and 258 he authored on the burn during Round 1.
The good ball reaction and solid pin carry he’s enjoyed thus far on both versions of this year’s Masters oil pattern has Butturff riding high and brimming with confidence heading into Round 3 on Thursday.
“It definitely gives me quite a bit of confidence to bowl this well on both the fresh and burn,” Butturff said. “I’m seeing what I like to see in my ‘A Game,’ which is to get the ball started super early on the lane. Hopefully, I can use that to my advantage the rest of the week.”
Butturff is hoping the week concludes with him collecting his ninth Professional Bowlers Association Tour victory and second Masters title, which would make him just the 10th player to win the hallowed major championship at least twice.
“There aren’t that many people who can say they’ve won the Masters multiple times,” Butturff said. “Winning this one would mean even more because then I’d become PBA Hall of Fame eligible, so there’s a lot to bowl for this week.”
There certainly is as this year’s Masters champion will earn a place in the tournament’s storied history, a PBA Tour major title and the event’s $100,000 first-place prize.
Thursday will see the conclusion of qualifying, which consisted of 15 games bowled over three days, 10 on the fresh and five on the burn.
Match play will begin at Thunderbowl Lanes on Friday morning starting at 10 a.m. Eastern and will follow a three-game, total-pins format.
Matches will take place on Friday and Saturday until the five stepladder finalists have been determined.
The stepladder finals of the 2026 Masters will take place on Sunday at 4 p.m. Eastern on The CW. The champion will claim a place in the tournament’s storied history, a PBA Tour major title and the $100,000 first-place prize. All rounds leading up to the televised finals will stream live exclusively on BowlTV.
The 2026 USBC Masters also marks the return of the traditional five-player stepladder finals format for the live television broadcast on The CW. The final two competitors remaining in the Winners Bracket will face off for the top seed while the final four players in the Elimination Bracket will compete for the remaining three spots on the TV show. The No. 1 seed will need to be defeated only once during the championship match.
CLICK HERE for more information on the USBC Masters.
FULL RESULTS
ALLEN PARK, Michigan – The United States Bowling Congress Masters is a tournament with a long, rich history. As such, any time a competitor manages to accomplish something that’s never been done before, it’s a noteworthy achievement to say the least.
On Wednesday, Jakob Butturff of Tempe, Arizona, entered his name in the tournament’s record books by posting the highest score through the first 10 games of qualifying in Masters history.
The 31-year-old left-hander did so by following up the 1,252 five-game score he authored during Round 1 on Tuesday with a 1,233 effort on Wednesday. That ran his two-day, 10-game total to 2,485 (a 248.5 average), which topped the previous mark of 2,479 put up by Darren Tang of Las Vegas (2017) and Jim Pencak of Mayfield Heights, Ohio (1992).
In addition to the record, the effort also gave Butturff the overall lead heading into Thursday’s final round of qualifying at the 2026 USBC Masters, which is being contested at Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park, Michigan.
Opening-round leader Deo Benard of Roanoke, Texas, who put up the second-highest five-game block score in Masters history (1,309) during Round 1 on Tuesday, was solid again on Day 2, posting 1,139 to secure second place overall with 2,448.
Jesper Svensson of Sweden was third with 2,416 while Canada’s Graham Fach (2,413) and Killian Kilpatrick of Erie, Pennsylvania (2,386), also landed in the top five at the conclusion of Round 2.
David “Boog” Krol of Springfield, Missouri, used a 300 during Game 2 on Wednesday to post 1,123 for the day and 2,220 overall, which moved him into 37th place.
Nevertheless, the most important position is No. 63 because that is likely to be the lowest any athlete can be in the standings at the conclusion of Thursday’s final five-game qualifying block to advance to match play.
That’s because defending champion Gary Haines of Babylon, New York, is guaranteed a spot in the Masters’ 64-player, double-elimination match-play bracket regardless of his qualifying position.
Haines has the opportunity to improve his seed during qualifying; however, if he finishes outside the top 63, he’ll be the No. 64 seed.
With five games of qualifying remaining, Haines sits tied for 180th place at 2,069. As such, it’s likely he’ll be utilizing the champion’s berth, which would keep the player in 64th place at the end of Round 3 on the outside looking in.
The athlete currently residing in 63rd place in the 390-player field is Mason Edmondson of Amarillo, Texas, who reached that position thanks to a two-day, 10-game mark of 2,177 (a 217.7 average).
While Edmondson and those closest to him will be staring at the cut line on Thursday, Butturff will be eyeing the No. 1 seed for match play.
It certainly wouldn’t be a surprise if he were to attain it; after all, through the first 10 games, nobody has tamed the 41-foot 2026 Masters oil pattern better than Butturff.
The 2019 Masters champ was steady while taking on the fresh on Wednesday, posting scores of 224, 246, 207, 298 and 258.
That was nearly as impressive as the marks of 213, 225, 268, 288 and 258 he authored on the burn during Round 1.
The good ball reaction and solid pin carry he’s enjoyed thus far on both versions of this year’s Masters oil pattern has Butturff riding high and brimming with confidence heading into Round 3 on Thursday.
“It definitely gives me quite a bit of confidence to bowl this well on both the fresh and burn,” Butturff said. “I’m seeing what I like to see in my ‘A Game,’ which is to get the ball started super early on the lane. Hopefully, I can use that to my advantage the rest of the week.”
Butturff is hoping the week concludes with him collecting his ninth Professional Bowlers Association Tour victory and second Masters title, which would make him just the 10th player to win the hallowed major championship at least twice.
“There aren’t that many people who can say they’ve won the Masters multiple times,” Butturff said. “Winning this one would mean even more because then I’d become PBA Hall of Fame eligible, so there’s a lot to bowl for this week.”
There certainly is as this year’s Masters champion will earn a place in the tournament’s storied history, a PBA Tour major title and the event’s $100,000 first-place prize.
Thursday will see the conclusion of qualifying, which consisted of 15 games bowled over three days, 10 on the fresh and five on the burn.
Match play will begin at Thunderbowl Lanes on Friday morning starting at 10 a.m. Eastern and will follow a three-game, total-pins format.
Matches will take place on Friday and Saturday until the five stepladder finalists have been determined.
The stepladder finals of the 2026 Masters will take place on Sunday at 4 p.m. Eastern on The CW. The champion will claim a place in the tournament’s storied history, a PBA Tour major title and the $100,000 first-place prize. All rounds leading up to the televised finals will stream live exclusively on BowlTV.
The 2026 USBC Masters also marks the return of the traditional five-player stepladder finals format for the live television broadcast on The CW. The final two competitors remaining in the Winners Bracket will face off for the top seed while the final four players in the Elimination Bracket will compete for the remaining three spots on the TV show. The No. 1 seed will need to be defeated only once during the championship match.
CLICK HERE for more information on the USBC Masters.