January 25, 2025 Nolan Hughes

Fach wins second career title, first since 2016

Almost nine years after winning his first career title, Graham Fach captured his second on Saturday night at Mid County Lanes and Entertainment in Middletown, Del.

Fach defeated top seed Jakob Butturff, 277-200, in the 2025 season-opening PBA Delaware Classic title match to take home the $30,000 top prize.

“I feel nothing, but I feel everything at the same time,” Fach said. “I can't even begin to think of my emotional state right now. It’s everything all at once, and I’m enjoying every second of it.”

 

Fach won his first career title in the second event of his career, becoming the first Canadian to win on the tour. 3,261 days later, the now-father of two said each win feels like night and day.

“I know how hard it is to win on the PBA Tour now,” Fach said. “I fought so hard for nine years trying to get back in the winner’s circle. I’m not a kid anymore trying to see if I can do it. I’m out here proving to myself that I can do it. I’m proving to everyone that I can do it. More importantly, I’m comfortable doing it now.”

As the drought prolonged, Fach said he began to suffer from imposter syndrome.

“I didn’t really have any expectations when I joined the tour,” Fach said. “I was just a kid going to give the tour a shot and I won. After that, you build expectations. When you fall short, it gets heavy. It’s a big weight to bear. I started to feel like maybe I don't belong out here. Maybe I had my week and that was it.”

Over the past few seasons, Fach had begun to work his way towards title contention. He finished 14th in points last season and made the PBA World Championship finals. He also dominated the PBA Elite League in Portland in 2023 and 2024.

Fach said can't specify any particular low moment during the drought, just incremental burden.

“The weight gets a little heavier each time, but to pinpoint any one event I’d say is unfair,” Fach added. “It’s definitely a journey, and without it I don’t think this would feel as good as it does right now.”

Fach said the win felt even sweeter with his wife, Jen, in attendance.

“I’m so thankful my wife was able to make the trip and witness this,” he said. “She’s my biggest supporter. She will go anywhere if I’m on TV. She believes in me. She watches the kids when I'm out on tour. There’s no one that can do anything more than what she’s doing for me. To have the support right behind me, enjoying the moment with me, I love this feeling.”

 

Fach ran away and hid from top-seeded Butturff in an all-left-handed championship. Fach started with four strikes, while Butturff failed to notch a second strike until the sixth frame.

“I’d like to say that I handled the nerves better, but man those nerves were there,” Fach said. “Jakob is obviously world class. He’s the top seed for a reason. You expect him to be Jakob. If we replay that match, nine times out of 10 he’s that Jakob.

Butturff nearly converted his split in the fourth frame, but it may have been for naught regardless as Fach cruised to 277 with 10 strikes.

“After Jakob split, that got me thinking this could happen,” Fach said, “but you still expect Jakob to be what we all expect Jakob to be. I expected him to strike out for 230 and I knew I needed a couple more strikes to get there. It wasn’t until the ninth frame where I was able to strike and enjoy the moment. I sat down in the chair, basking in it, and realized what happened.”

Fach defeated Nick Pate in the semifinal, 249-226. Pate, who emerged from the pre-tournament qualifier (PTQ), sought his first career title. Pate needed a double in the 10th frame to upend Fach, but missed left on his first attempt.

In the second match, Fach out-struck another PTQ player in Michael Davidson, an impressive feat considering Davidson set the PBA’s 12-game scoring record during qualifying.

Davidson made the show as the highest-seeded qualifier to lose in the Round of 8 of bracket match play. He lost to AJ Johnson in that round, and earned his revenge in the first match of the stepladder finals.

The PBA Tour continues on Tuesday with qualifying of the U.S. Open presented by Go Bowling.

“Next week is next week. I want to focus on today right now,” Fach said. “You can’t go into the U.S. Open too high or too low and expect success. I’m going to have to bring myself into reality real quick, and I’m sure that tournament won’t hesitate to do so.”

Championship Round Scores

Match 1: No. 5 Michael Davidson def. No. 4 AJ Johnson, 237-232
Match 2: No. 3 Graham Fach def. No. 5 Michael Davidson, 256-242
Match 3: No. 3 Graham Fach def. No. 2 Nick Pate, 249-226
Championship: No. 3 Graham Fach def. No. 1 Jakob Butturff, 277-200

Final Standings

  1. Graham Fach, $30,000
  2. Jakob Butturff, $18,000
  3. Nick Pate, $13,000
  4. Michael Davidson, $10,000
  5. AJ Johnson, $9,000

More information on the PBA Delaware Championship is available here.