WATERLOO, Iowa – A new chapter for Jordan Snodgrass of Adrian, Michigan, began tonight after winning the 2025 Professional Women’s Bowling Association Bowlers Journal Waterloo Open, defeating Correen Acuff of Tucson, Arizona, 227-215, for her sixth career title at Cadillac XBC in Waterloo Open.
After winning five titles and PWBA Player of the Year honors in 2023 as Jordan Richard prior, the talented right-handed bowler won her first title as a married woman with husband and Professional Bowlers Association regional titlist Frank in attendance. Snodgrass will receive a new banner reflecting the name change, officially turning the page in her PWBA career.
“I feel like everything I’ve worked so hard for the past however many weeks leading up to this moment finally paid off,” said Snodgrass.
She earned a third straight championship-round berth today, heading into the stepladder finals as the No. 2 seed and facing off against Stephanie Zavala of Long Beach, California in the semifinal match.
Zavala started the match ahead early after an opening turkey and Snodgrass opened in the fourth frame. Snodgrass turned things around, however, striking three times over the next four frames and taking full advantage of Zavala missing a 10 pin in the seventh frame.
A double in the 10th frame for 222 for Snodgrass advanced her to the title match with Zavala bowing out with 203. Zavala earned $7,500 for her third-place finish.
Waiting for Snodgrass in the title match was Acuff, who was looking for her first career title and had two perfect games during the event. The talent that both bowlers possessed was on full display during the match as they were dead even halfway through the match, determined to win the title.
A double in the sixth and seventh by Snodgrass and Acuff kept things even, as it seemed like whoever made the next mistake might be the one leaving Waterloo in heartache. Snodgrass struck in the eighth, putting the pressure on Acuff to strike to keep up. Acuff’s shot in the eighth frame went light for a 2-4-8 combo, which she converted. A flat 10 conversion for Acuff meant that Snodgrass needed two marks to clinch the title, and back-to-back single pin spares with a strike in the fill for 227 earned Snodgrass the title and $20,000 top prize. Acuff earned $10,000 for her runner-up finish.
The win also lifted a weight off her shoulders after not being able to capture a title in 2024 and a great week in Cleveland during the PWBA Summer Series but leaving empty-handed despite two back-to-back championship-round appearances. Jordan and Frank immediately embraced after the win, letting the emotions out for all to see.
“You win three times in a season (in 2023) before coming back in 2024, and I bowled okay but didn’t win it all,” said Snodgrass. “I feel like you go through those ups and downs of not winning at all and the emotions behind that are hard to explain.
“In the offseason I had to remember who I was as a person and that winning doesn’t define who I was. I feel like that has really helped me this season.”
She hopes the momentum that she has had the past two weeks will continue as she looks to cross off the top thing on her bucket list: winning a major. With the U.S. Women’s Open starting in a few days, anything is possible for Snodgrass.
“The past few weeks I’ve bowled really good and I feel like next week just has to be more of the same,” said Snodgrass. “Just have to make good shots, make my spares and hope my name is at the top at the end.”
The stepladder finals in Waterloo began with an opening match between Singapore’s Cherie Tan and Kerry Smith of Lititz, Pennsylvania. Smith took advantage of Tan’s three opens in the final five frames to advance, 195-174. Tan earned $5,500 for fifth place.
Smith then faced Zavala, looking for her second win in two weeks after a win on her birthday at the PWBA Cleveland Open. Zavala shot a clean 222 game to advance while Smith opened in the fourth and fifth frame, falling behind early and unable to catch up, managing a 191 game and a fourth-place finish, earning $6,500.
All rounds of competition were livestreamed on BowlTV.
The PWBA Tour heads to Lincoln, Nebraska, for the U.S. Women’s Open, the second major of the season, beginning June 10 with a pre-tournament qualifier.
