Final Standings
ALLEN PARK, Mich.- Malaysia’s Sin Li Jane left her mark on the 2024 Professional Women’s Bowling Association National Tour season, ending the year as the PWBA Tour Championship winner for her second major victory and fourth title of the season at Thunderbowl Lanes in Detroit.
Sin defeated Jordan Richard in the title match, 215-209, which came down to the wire and ended in heartbreak for Richard, who is still seeking her first major title. For Sin, coming over to the states on her own and having the season she’s had validated what she thought she could do.
“It’s been a great journey to be on tour this season,” said Sin. “It means a lot to me because I came over by myself, I do everything on my own. I’m glad to have (PWBA member) Esther (Cheah) with me for the whole season. I’ve proven to myself that I can do it.”
Before the title match, Sin had to defeat Missy Parkin in the semifinal match, who was making her own kind of history as she made the major show as an alternate, something that no one else has done before.
Neither competitor was able to pull away to start the match, but Sin had an opportunity to when Parkin opened with a split in the fifth frame. Sin was unable to capitalize on the open but stayed clean the rest of the way for a 217.
Parkin threw the next four strikes and was the one who had to end the match, needing a mark and count to continue her underdog story.
Another big split dashed those hopes for Parkin, ending with a 206 and a third-place finish. As an alternate, she splits her prize money with the person she came in for, Diana Zavjalova. Parkin and Zavjalova each receive $8,000.
The title match was another back-and-forth affair that saw Sin and Jordan match each other until the fifth frame, where this time, Sin was the one who opened with a 4-6 split.
Jordan couldn’t quite fully seize the opportunity, but kept herself in the match when her ball went high for a 2-4-6-7-10 split and converted it. A few more marks for both players and the Tour Championship title came down to the final frame, where Jordan ended first.
Jordan needed a double and count in the 10th frame to shut the door on Sin’s quest for a second major title. Her first shot went flush for a strike and her second shot looked just as good as it hit the pocket.
The 7-10 split said otherwise.
Jordan quickly ran down the 10 pin and ended the game with 209, putting pressure on Sin to get a double and six pins for the win.
For Sin, the pressure was nothing new to her, as the 2024 PWBA Tour season has continued to show everyone who follows.
She flushed all three shots in the 10th for strikes and a 215, earning her fifth PWBA Tour title overall, fourth of the season, second major and the $50,000 top prize. Richard earned $25,000 for her runner-up finish.
Sin was able to win this title in front of members of her family, who have been some of her biggest supporters in her career.
“It means a lot to me to win this title in front of my mom and brother. They have been able to witness me win back home and travel with me a lot, giving me that moral support. I’m glad that they were here today. I’m thankful for them and my dad back home, as well as my Malaysian bowling supporters.”
Sin also was awarded with PWBA Player of the Year honors during the show, becoming the second international player to win the award in PWBA history. She adds her name to the list of PWBA legends like Lisa Wagner and Wendy Macpherson.
“It’s an incredible honor to be a part of that list. I’m glad that I made it happen and I hope it inspires more international players to come bowl on the tour and compete, as well as have fun together.”
Her earnings for the 2024 season, $154,570, is also the second-most any player has won since earnings were tracked in 1981, with only Wendy Macpherson earning more in 1997 ($165,425).
The stepladder started with Parkin and Singapore’s New Hui Fen. Parkin advanced with a 190 while New struggled early and bowed out with a 160, earning $9,000 for fifth place.
Next for Parkin was Stefanie Johnson of McKinney, Texas, looking for her first title of the season and second major overall.
Parkin and Johnson stayed close until the eighth frame, where Johnson opened three straight frames to end her game with a 154 while Parkin advanced with a 184. Johnson earned $12,000 for her fourth-place finish.
The Tour Championship was the final event of the season-ending PWBA Championship Week – Detroit, which featured three events – PWBA Greater Detroit Open, PWBA Pepsi Open and Tour Championship – and kicked off Wednesday with 81 athletes.
In order to qualify for the Tour Championship, a player had to be a current PWBA member in good standing and have won a National Tour title during the 2024 season. The remainder of the field was filled from the PWBA season points list through the most recent tournament preceding the Tour Championship, which was the Pepsi Open.
The Tour Championship consisted of three eight-game rounds of match play Sunday and Monday. Total pinfall for 24 games, including bonus pins for each victory in match play, determined the five finalists for Tuesday’s championship round.
New won the Greater Detroit Open on Thursday for her first title of the 2024 season and second career title. Jillian Martin of Stow, Ohio, won the Pepsi Open Saturday night to claim her third PWBA Tour tournament victory.
The 2024 PWBA Tour schedule featured 13 events during the season and began in May at the PWBA GoBowling! Twin Cities Open at Cedarvale Lanes in Eagan, Minnesota.
