LOCKPORT, Ill. – Former four-time McKendree All-American men's bowler A.J. Johnson claimed his 10th all-time career regional title at the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Celeste Walker Midwest/Central Open held here on May 27-29 at Strike and Spare 2.
Johnson, who has won six career tournament titles on the PBA Tour since turning pro in 2015, defeated Jakob Butturff of Tempe, Ariz., in the championship match of the stepladder final, 209-173. Johnson was the No. 1 seed in the stepladder finals of the Memorial Day weekend event. With his win, Johnson collected 2,500 points and $2,500 in prize money to move his career winnings to over $200,000.
In the championship match against Butturff, Johnson began with an early double, while his opponent recorded a 3-6-7-9 split in the first frame. That early double helped Johnson maintain his lead and fend off a late challenge by Butturff, who finally was able to double in the 10th frame of the match. That double in 10th though came too late as Johnson had built a multi-mark lead in the match.
Johnson, who is a native of Oswego, Ill., finished the event first atop the final standings as he averaged 224.53 in 17 games and totaled 3,937 pins, while Buttruff averaged 221.44 in 18 games and recorded 4,136 pins.
In the pool play round to open the event on May 27, Johnson was the No. 1 seed after posting a 4-3 record and an average of 226.7 pins as he totaled 3,521 pins in seven games.
Following the pool play rounds, Johnson was still atop the leaderboard after eight match play games as he had averaged 226.73 per game and had totaled 3,521 pins through 15 games.
During his four-year career at McKendree from 2011-15, Johnson was a four-time NCBCA All-American for the Bearcats and led the school to a National Runner-up finish in 2013 and was named the Men's Collegiate Bowler of the Year in 2013-14.
Along with his success at the college and professional level, where he was named the PBA Midwest Rookie of the Year in 2015 and earned the Midwest Region Player of the Year accolades in 2017, 2018 and 2020, Johnson has bene a member of Team USA for eight years and was a gold medalist with Team USA as the World Championships in Las Vegas, Nev., in 2017 and won a gold medal in trios at the 2021 IBF Super World Championships.
Portions of release appear courtesy of PBA.com and Bowl.com website
