New Hui Fen becomes first Singaporean bowler to win PWBA Tour Player of the Year

SINGAPORE – New Hui Fen created history for Singapore bowling on Aug 13, when she was crowned the Professional Women’s Bowling Association (PWBA) Tour Player of the Year.

New is the first Singaporean and just the second Asian to win the coveted title, joining an elite group that includes American legends Liz Johnson, Lisa Wagner and Wendy Macpherson. Malaysia’s Sin Li Jane won the award in 2024.

New, 33, called it a “dream come true” to have clinched the annual honour.

“Ever since competing on the PWBA Tour, I’ve always wanted to win the Player of the Year title because it is a true testament of my consistency and skills,” she said.

“I feel very honoured to be representing Singapore and winning this award. Watching past winners like Liz Johnson and Shannon O’Keefe winning Player of the Year back to back was truly inspiring for me.”

Ahead of the Aug 10-12 season-ending PWBA Tour Championship at ABC Gates Bowl in Rochester, New York, New was leading the race to capture the Tour Player of the Year gong.

The accolade is determined annually by competition points racked up at 11 events throughout the year.

But after finishing ninth to miss out on the stepladder finals with her 94,550-point total, it seemed like her closest competitor Jordan Snodgrass had seized the initiative.

With the American the only one who could overtake New, the former – who had 93,125 points going into the Aug 12 finals – needed just a win in the first match to earn enough points to overtake the Singaporean.

But Snodgrass lost the opening match 185-150 against No. 5 seed Stephanie Zavala, handing New the prestigious title.

“I was very nervous watching the match. I’d much rather be the person bowling. (When I did not make the finals), I did feel like I had lost the title as I didn’t do as well as I wanted to for the Tour Championship,” said New.

New credited the Singapore Bowling Federation (SBF), High Performance Sport Institute (HPSI), and the “love and support from my family and friends”.

She added: “Singapore Bowling always provides us with the best guidance possible. The last few years we are fortunate to be able to work with Shawn Ryan (SBF technical consultant and coach). He is the best and I’m constantly learning from him.”

She also acknowledged the work of HPSI strength and conditioning coach Joshua Lim, whom she said “is the reason I am physically stronger and free from injuries”.

SBF president Valerie Teo said in a statement that New’s win is a historic moment for Singapore on the world stage.

She added: “It celebrates not only her extraordinary talent, focus and determination, but also the strength of Singapore’s sporting spirit. Her victory shows that our athletes can rise to the pinnacle of global competition, inspiring the next generation of bowlers to believe that with dedication and resilience, Singapore can triumph at the highest levels of sport.”

PWBA 2016 Rookie of the Year New has had a stellar 2025 which has seen her add more PWBA titles in a decorated career that also includes medals on the world stage.

On May 31, she won the BowlTV Open before capturing her second title on the PWBA Tour on June 2 at the Rock ‘n’ Roll Open – it was her second victory in three days at the same venue.

On June 18, she won four straight stepladder matches to win the 2025 US Women’s Open, where she clinched the victory 290-188 in the title match against Snodgrass. Her triumph also made her the front runner for the PWBA’s annual accolade.

New’s fifth title and second Major triumph, after the 2016 PWBA Tour Championship, also meant she met the minimum criteria to be inducted into the PWBA Hall of Fame once she turns 50.

That made her the first Singaporean to achieve that feat.

Reflecting on her recent victories, New said that winning the Rock ‘n’ Roll Open was the pivotal moment for her as “winning that title was something I manifested since April”.

She added: “Winning that added on to my belief that I can achieve anything, as long as I set my mind to it. Winning the US Open was a follow-through moment from the Rock ‘n’ Roll Open.”

Although New has yet to decide how she will celebrate her historic achievement, she hopes her Player of the Year win will inspire a new generation of bowlers.

Her advice to them is to embrace the lessons that come from setbacks.

It is a mantra that has served her well.

New said: “Be patient, know all your strengths and weaknesses. Constantly ask for feedback on how you can improve, keep failing and keep learning.

“Through failing many times, I got many opportunities to learn and improve from my mistakes. Self-reflection and learning how to receive feedback from coaches also helped me see things I couldn’t see on my own.”