Singapore's New wins PWBA Player of the Year for second straight season along with High Average Award
September 15, 2026
ARLINGTON, Texas – Singapore’s New Hui Fen added another milestone to her already decorated career, earning Professional Women’s Bowling Association Player of the Year honors for the second consecutive season after putting together another strong campaign in 2026.
New became just the fifth player in PWBA history to successfully defend her Player of the Year title, joining Leanne Hulsenberg (1990-1991), Wendy Macpherson (1996-1997, 1999-2000), Liz Johnson (2015-2017) and Shannon O’Keefe (2018-2019). She also is the first player from outside the United States to win the award in consecutive seasons.
“I am incredibly honored to see my name listed alongside the elite bowlers who have emerged from the PWBA Tour,” New said.
New’s 2026 season was highlighted by remarkable consistency. She cashed in all 11 PWBA events and led the tour in points with 97,450, championship-round appearances with six, match-play appearances with seven and top-12 finishes with eight. She claimed one title in 2026, winning the PWBA Northern Colorado Open, and earned the fourth-most money on tour, taking home $71,745.
In addition to Player of the Year, New earned the PWBA High Average Award after averaging 217.52 for the season.
“Player of the Year is the ultimate goal, but the High Average Award is an excellent validator,” New said. “It means I didn’t just have a few hot weeks but that I was consistent from start to finish. To maintain the high average against the absolute best bowlers in the world on the PWBA Tour is a huge personal milestone and something I’ve worked toward my entire career.”
The award comes one year after New solidified herself as one of the PWBA Tour’s premier players by winning Player of the Year after earning three titles. New is up to six career PWBA titles through 2026, including two majors, and adds this year’s PWBA Player of the Year award to her list of accolades, which includes the 2016 PWBA Rookie of the Year award.
Her accomplishments outside the tour are also substantial, as New has earned numerous medals representing Singapore in international competition, including a bronze medal in doubles at the 2025 International Bowling Federation World Championships. While she captured just one title in 2026, New believes the biggest improvement in her game came through greater consistency and a stronger mental approach.
“I definitely felt the pressure (to win POY again), particularly when I was struggling to read the lanes, which occasionally led to frustration,” New said. “Although I captured only one title, I felt my performance was more consistent throughout this season.”
New improved her number of top-12 finishes from five in 2025 to eight this season, while her championship-round appearances increased from four to six.
“Statistically, the numbers don't lie, and I'm incredibly proud of that jump,” New said. “Six stepladders and eight top-12s means I put myself in position to win almost every single week, but true consistency for me was mental. Last year, I let the lane transitions frustrate me too easily. This year, I stayed calm, made smarter adjustments and let the process take over. The statistical leap is just a byproduct of that improved mindset.”
That continued development has kept New motivated as she looks toward the future.
“For me, the key to building on this success is never assuming I’ve figured it all out,” New said. “I actually like to think of professional bowling as a game, and I'm a character inside it trying to level up every single skill possible.”
New said her focus remains on identifying areas where she can improve, whether that means learning new ball motions, reading lane transitions more quickly or continuing to sharpen her mental game.
“There is always a new level to reach,” New said. “That constant pursuit of improvement is what keeps me incredibly hungry.”
New’s accomplishments also have helped raise the profile of Singaporean bowling on the international stage. She has been part of a growing group of Singaporean bowlers making an impact on the PWBA Tour, and she hopes their success can inspire young bowlers back home.
“I truly hope the youth in Singapore look at us and see what is possible,” New said. “For a long time, competing and winning at the absolute highest level internationally felt like a distant dream, but Singapore Bowling Federation and HPSI of Singapore have shown that with a solid plan, relentless dedication and the right system, those dreams can absolutely become a reality.”
New hopes the next generation will see professional bowling as an attainable goal rather than something reserved for athletes from traditional bowling powerhouses.
“I want them to realize that they don't have to just watch the best in the world from afar; they can be the best in the world,” New said. “I hope our success gives them the confidence to chase their own goals fearlessly.”
The 2027 PWBA National Tour season begins May 6 with the PWBA Rhode Island Open in Rumford, Rhode Island.
New became just the fifth player in PWBA history to successfully defend her Player of the Year title, joining Leanne Hulsenberg (1990-1991), Wendy Macpherson (1996-1997, 1999-2000), Liz Johnson (2015-2017) and Shannon O’Keefe (2018-2019). She also is the first player from outside the United States to win the award in consecutive seasons.
“I am incredibly honored to see my name listed alongside the elite bowlers who have emerged from the PWBA Tour,” New said.
New’s 2026 season was highlighted by remarkable consistency. She cashed in all 11 PWBA events and led the tour in points with 97,450, championship-round appearances with six, match-play appearances with seven and top-12 finishes with eight. She claimed one title in 2026, winning the PWBA Northern Colorado Open, and earned the fourth-most money on tour, taking home $71,745.
In addition to Player of the Year, New earned the PWBA High Average Award after averaging 217.52 for the season.
“Player of the Year is the ultimate goal, but the High Average Award is an excellent validator,” New said. “It means I didn’t just have a few hot weeks but that I was consistent from start to finish. To maintain the high average against the absolute best bowlers in the world on the PWBA Tour is a huge personal milestone and something I’ve worked toward my entire career.”
The award comes one year after New solidified herself as one of the PWBA Tour’s premier players by winning Player of the Year after earning three titles. New is up to six career PWBA titles through 2026, including two majors, and adds this year’s PWBA Player of the Year award to her list of accolades, which includes the 2016 PWBA Rookie of the Year award.
Her accomplishments outside the tour are also substantial, as New has earned numerous medals representing Singapore in international competition, including a bronze medal in doubles at the 2025 International Bowling Federation World Championships. While she captured just one title in 2026, New believes the biggest improvement in her game came through greater consistency and a stronger mental approach.
“I definitely felt the pressure (to win POY again), particularly when I was struggling to read the lanes, which occasionally led to frustration,” New said. “Although I captured only one title, I felt my performance was more consistent throughout this season.”
New improved her number of top-12 finishes from five in 2025 to eight this season, while her championship-round appearances increased from four to six.
“Statistically, the numbers don't lie, and I'm incredibly proud of that jump,” New said. “Six stepladders and eight top-12s means I put myself in position to win almost every single week, but true consistency for me was mental. Last year, I let the lane transitions frustrate me too easily. This year, I stayed calm, made smarter adjustments and let the process take over. The statistical leap is just a byproduct of that improved mindset.”
That continued development has kept New motivated as she looks toward the future.
“For me, the key to building on this success is never assuming I’ve figured it all out,” New said. “I actually like to think of professional bowling as a game, and I'm a character inside it trying to level up every single skill possible.”
New said her focus remains on identifying areas where she can improve, whether that means learning new ball motions, reading lane transitions more quickly or continuing to sharpen her mental game.
“There is always a new level to reach,” New said. “That constant pursuit of improvement is what keeps me incredibly hungry.”
New’s accomplishments also have helped raise the profile of Singaporean bowling on the international stage. She has been part of a growing group of Singaporean bowlers making an impact on the PWBA Tour, and she hopes their success can inspire young bowlers back home.
“I truly hope the youth in Singapore look at us and see what is possible,” New said. “For a long time, competing and winning at the absolute highest level internationally felt like a distant dream, but Singapore Bowling Federation and HPSI of Singapore have shown that with a solid plan, relentless dedication and the right system, those dreams can absolutely become a reality.”
New hopes the next generation will see professional bowling as an attainable goal rather than something reserved for athletes from traditional bowling powerhouses.
“I want them to realize that they don't have to just watch the best in the world from afar; they can be the best in the world,” New said. “I hope our success gives them the confidence to chase their own goals fearlessly.”
The 2027 PWBA National Tour season begins May 6 with the PWBA Rhode Island Open in Rumford, Rhode Island.