SINGAPORE - National bowler New Hui Fen finished runner-up at the World Singles Championships on Friday, after a 195-214 loss to America's defending champion Kelly Kulick in the one-game final.

She takes home US$4,000 (S$5,700) for her silver medal.

The Singaporean earned her place in the final after squeezing past another American, Shannon Pluhowsky, with a last-frame spare in the semi-final that gave her a 238-237 win.

Said the 24-year-old: "This was the first time I'm competing in this tournament, so I was a bit nervous.

"But ultimately it's not the event that scares me, but whom I'm bowling with. Kelly is Kelly and she just gives me some chills."

Her compatriot Shayna Ng took a bronze, making it to the semi-finals but being beaten 216-172 by Kulick. Ng takes home US$3,000.

The Singaporeans were the only Asians to make it into the top eight of the quadrennial event.