New Hui Fen sets sights on PWBA Player of the Year award after clinching second title in three days

National bowler New Hui Fen clinched her fourth Professional Women's Bowling Association title with a win at the Rock 'n' Roll Open on June 2. PHOTO: PWBA

Kimberly Kwek

UPDATED Jun 03, 2025, 08:36 PM

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SINGAPORE – After securing back-to-back titles on the Professional Women’s Bowling Association (PWBA) Tour, Singapore’s New Hui Fen has set her sights on an even bigger prize – the circuit’s Player of the Year award.

The national bowler is now the front runner for the accolade, having captured her second title of 2025 on June 2 by defeating Latvia’s Diana Zavjalova 235-187 in the title match of the Rock ’n’ Roll Open.

Her latest triumph at Yorktown Lanes in Ohio, marked her second win in three days at the same venue. The 33-year-old had .

In an interview with the PWBA, she said: “Winning Player of the Year is something I’ve dreamt of.

“Last year, I was close but (Sin Li) Jane bowled so well, but maybe this year is my year.”

Malaysia’s Sin became the first Asian to win the accolade in 2024 after claiming four titles, including two Majors.

New was among the 16 bowlers who qualified for the match-play round after placing fifth in qualifying with 2,739 pinfalls.

In the best-of-five match-play bracket, she opened with a 3-2 win against Sweden’s Anneli Blomqvist in the round-of-16, followed by a 3-0 sweep of American Jillian Martin.

In the semi-finals, she edged past Jordan Snodgrass of the United States 245-244 to reach the championship match against Zavjalova, who had earlier defeated Julia Bond 267-234.

Both bowlers were on even footing through five frames in the final, but the Singaporean reeled off four consecutive strikes from frames six to nine to finish with 234 to Zavjalova’s 187 and earn the US$10,000 (S$12,900) top prize.

Fittingly, New flashed a rock hand sign as she posed with the trophy after her win. She said: “I’m very happy and grateful for this back-to-back win. I’m happy that my hard work is paying off and grateful to have this opportunity to perform at my best.

“It’s been years of intentional training and showing up every day at the gym and on the lanes.”Next on the calendar for Singapore’s bowlers are the June 5-7 PWBA Waterloo Open, and the June 10-17 US Women’s Open, before they return home.

They will be back in the US for the Aug 5-12 2025 PWBA Tour Championship Week, which includes three events, culminating in the season-ending PWBA Tour Championship.

New, the PWBA 2016 Rookie of the Year, is hoping to continue the form that has brought her tally of PWBA titles to four in a decorated career that also includes medals on the world stage.

On what keeps her going, she said: “I treat my bowling as a game and I’m a character in that game of bowling – I’m trying my best to level up in every aspect of the game so that I can be consistent at every competition.”

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With New’s two wins and Shayna Ng’s victory at the Topeka Open in May, Singapore has now captured trophies in three of the five PWBA National Tour events so far.

Singapore Bowling Federation president Valerie Teo said: “Hui Fen’s latest victory at the PWBA Rock ’n’ Roll Open is another incredible testament to her resilience and world-class ability, and it caps off what has been a phenomenal run for Singapore bowling.

“We’re incredibly proud of what our bowlers have achieved so far this season. With two wins under her belt already, Hui Fen is currently the front runner for the PWBA Player of the Year award through five events.

“While there’s still a long way to go, it’s exciting to see her in such strong form and in the running for one of the tour’s highest honours.”

Kimberly Kwek joined The Straits Times in 2019 as a sports journalist and has since covered a wide array of sports, including golf and sailing.

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