Martin makes history after winning 2026 PWBA Tour Championship for fifth title and third major
August 19, 2026
Final Standings
PARMA HEIGHTS, Ohio – Jillian Martin of Stow, Ohio, became the first bowler since the Professional Women’s Bowling Association Tour relaunched to clinch the Triple Crown — United States Bowling Congress Queens, U.S. Women’s Open and PWBA Tour Championship — after defeating Germany’s Birgit Noreiks, 247-221, Tuesday evening at the season-ending Tour Championship at Yorktown Lanes in Parma Heights, Ohio.
The victory added another milestone to Martin’s already impressive resume, earning her a fifth career title and third major and making her eligible for the PWBA Hall of Fame in the Performance category when she turns 40. At 22 years, 24 days old, Martin also became the youngest bowler to earn a Triple Crown and win three career majors in PWBA history, surpassing marks previously held by PWBA Hall of Famers Wendy Macpherson (22 years, nine months, 20 days) and Aleta Sill (22 years, eight months, two days), respectively.
“It’s shocking,” Martin said of becoming a five-time champion with three major titles at 22. “I would not necessarily expect to be here. Have I imagined being here? Did I know it could happen? 100%. But I never truly, truly was like, ‘Wow, this is going to happen, and it’s going to happen now.’”
The major title did not come easy for Martin, as Noreiks opened the title match with five consecutive strikes while Martin spared in the first two frames before recording her first strike in the third. The two traded strikes until Noreiks left and converted the 10 pin in the sixth, before Martin left a 7 pin one frame later and converted it.
Noreiks left another 10 pin in the eighth frame and followed it with a 3-6-10 combination in the ninth. Martin, working on a strike heading into the final two frames, needed two more strikes and at least nine pins to shut out Noreiks.
“I think once she leaves the 3-6-10, I know that the count is on my side at that point,” Martin said. “And so that’s where I know I need to make the best shots. Even if I went nine-spare, it still puts me in a better position, so I just needed to keep making those good shots and just letting what happens happen.”
As she has done time and time again, Martin struck in the ninth before a slow-moving messenger tipped the 10 pin over to start the final frame.
“Honestly, I was like, ‘Oh, OK, I guess I’m going to get spare and move on,’” Martin said of the messenger. “And then I didn’t see it at first, and then I was like, ‘Wait a minute, is the pin going toward the other pin that I need to fall?’ I was very hyped once that connected and the 10 pin fell down.”
Martin left a 7 pin on her final shot and converted it, clinching the major title and $30,000 top prize with a 247. Noreiks finished with 221 and earned $15,000 for her runner-up finish.
Martin’s Triple Crown joins an already impressive list of accomplishments at 22, but she said she remains grateful for the opportunity to compete alongside the legends who came before her.
“To hear those names and to know that I’ve now done this incredible feat before even they did, I’m honestly shocked standing here,” Martin said. “I’m so grateful that the PWBA is here, and I’m grateful that I get the opportunity to compete.”
“I’m not necessarily trying to win. I’m trying to be my best,” Martin said. “So if I’m not my best, it’s going to bother me, and I’m going to want to keep putting in the work to be somewhere where I feel like I’m at my best at whatever given point that is.”
The victory also gave Martin an accomplishment she had long pursued, but she said she has shifted her mindset away from focusing solely on milestones.
“I always wanted to be the youngest to win on the PWBA Tour,” Martin said. “But once I did that, I kind of lost who I was for a minute. I was like, ‘OK, well, now that I’ve done this, what’s next?’ I think goals are great, but, to some degree, once you fulfill them, there can be such a big letdown.”
Instead, Martin said she wants to continue enjoying the sport and pursuing improvement.
“I want to have fun, and I want to bowl well, and I want to show how fun bowling can be,” Martin said. “I just want to keep coming out here, keep doing that, keep being my best self and just being in constant pursuit.”
Martin was the only bowler to win twice during the 2026 PWBA National Tour season, continuing a streak that began in 1963. Her title-match victory also was her 10th consecutive stepladder match win, dating to her 2024 USBC Queens run.
The Tour Championship finals began with Stefanie Johnson of McKinney, Texas, and Lauren Russo of Wentzville, Missouri. Russo took advantage of an early open by Johnson and advanced with a 236-202 victory. Johnson earned $5,000 for fifth place.
Russo faced Latvia’s Diana Zavjalova in the second match. Once again, Russo took advantage of miscues by Zavjalova and cruised to a 258-166 victory. Zavjalova earned $6,500 for her fourth-place finish.
The semifinal match pitted Russo against Noreiks to determine who would face Martin in the title match. This time, Russo had the miscue, leaving the big four split in the fourth frame. That proved to be the difference as Noreiks advanced with a 226-221 victory. Russo earned $10,000 for her third-place finish.
The stepladder finals were simulcast on BowlTV and Bowling TV, the free 24-hour channel dedicated entirely to bowling, which can be found on Prime Video, LG Channels, Xumo Play, DISH TV, Bonusview, Sling Freestream, Plex, Free Live Sports and Bowling TV’s Roku app.
While the National Tour season has come to a close, the Regional Tour season continues Aug. 30 with the PWBA Wichita Regional in Wichita, Kansas. For more information on the PWBA Regional Tour, click HERE.
PARMA HEIGHTS, Ohio – Jillian Martin of Stow, Ohio, became the first bowler since the Professional Women’s Bowling Association Tour relaunched to clinch the Triple Crown — United States Bowling Congress Queens, U.S. Women’s Open and PWBA Tour Championship — after defeating Germany’s Birgit Noreiks, 247-221, Tuesday evening at the season-ending Tour Championship at Yorktown Lanes in Parma Heights, Ohio.
The victory added another milestone to Martin’s already impressive resume, earning her a fifth career title and third major and making her eligible for the PWBA Hall of Fame in the Performance category when she turns 40. At 22 years, 24 days old, Martin also became the youngest bowler to earn a Triple Crown and win three career majors in PWBA history, surpassing marks previously held by PWBA Hall of Famers Wendy Macpherson (22 years, nine months, 20 days) and Aleta Sill (22 years, eight months, two days), respectively.
“It’s shocking,” Martin said of becoming a five-time champion with three major titles at 22. “I would not necessarily expect to be here. Have I imagined being here? Did I know it could happen? 100%. But I never truly, truly was like, ‘Wow, this is going to happen, and it’s going to happen now.’”
The major title did not come easy for Martin, as Noreiks opened the title match with five consecutive strikes while Martin spared in the first two frames before recording her first strike in the third. The two traded strikes until Noreiks left and converted the 10 pin in the sixth, before Martin left a 7 pin one frame later and converted it.
Noreiks left another 10 pin in the eighth frame and followed it with a 3-6-10 combination in the ninth. Martin, working on a strike heading into the final two frames, needed two more strikes and at least nine pins to shut out Noreiks.
“I think once she leaves the 3-6-10, I know that the count is on my side at that point,” Martin said. “And so that’s where I know I need to make the best shots. Even if I went nine-spare, it still puts me in a better position, so I just needed to keep making those good shots and just letting what happens happen.”
As she has done time and time again, Martin struck in the ninth before a slow-moving messenger tipped the 10 pin over to start the final frame.
“Honestly, I was like, ‘Oh, OK, I guess I’m going to get spare and move on,’” Martin said of the messenger. “And then I didn’t see it at first, and then I was like, ‘Wait a minute, is the pin going toward the other pin that I need to fall?’ I was very hyped once that connected and the 10 pin fell down.”
Martin left a 7 pin on her final shot and converted it, clinching the major title and $30,000 top prize with a 247. Noreiks finished with 221 and earned $15,000 for her runner-up finish.
Martin’s Triple Crown joins an already impressive list of accomplishments at 22, but she said she remains grateful for the opportunity to compete alongside the legends who came before her.
“To hear those names and to know that I’ve now done this incredible feat before even they did, I’m honestly shocked standing here,” Martin said. “I’m so grateful that the PWBA is here, and I’m grateful that I get the opportunity to compete.”
“I’m not necessarily trying to win. I’m trying to be my best,” Martin said. “So if I’m not my best, it’s going to bother me, and I’m going to want to keep putting in the work to be somewhere where I feel like I’m at my best at whatever given point that is.”
The victory also gave Martin an accomplishment she had long pursued, but she said she has shifted her mindset away from focusing solely on milestones.
“I always wanted to be the youngest to win on the PWBA Tour,” Martin said. “But once I did that, I kind of lost who I was for a minute. I was like, ‘OK, well, now that I’ve done this, what’s next?’ I think goals are great, but, to some degree, once you fulfill them, there can be such a big letdown.”
Instead, Martin said she wants to continue enjoying the sport and pursuing improvement.
“I want to have fun, and I want to bowl well, and I want to show how fun bowling can be,” Martin said. “I just want to keep coming out here, keep doing that, keep being my best self and just being in constant pursuit.”
Martin was the only bowler to win twice during the 2026 PWBA National Tour season, continuing a streak that began in 1963. Her title-match victory also was her 10th consecutive stepladder match win, dating to her 2024 USBC Queens run.
The Tour Championship finals began with Stefanie Johnson of McKinney, Texas, and Lauren Russo of Wentzville, Missouri. Russo took advantage of an early open by Johnson and advanced with a 236-202 victory. Johnson earned $5,000 for fifth place.
Russo faced Latvia’s Diana Zavjalova in the second match. Once again, Russo took advantage of miscues by Zavjalova and cruised to a 258-166 victory. Zavjalova earned $6,500 for her fourth-place finish.
The semifinal match pitted Russo against Noreiks to determine who would face Martin in the title match. This time, Russo had the miscue, leaving the big four split in the fourth frame. That proved to be the difference as Noreiks advanced with a 226-221 victory. Russo earned $10,000 for her third-place finish.
The stepladder finals were simulcast on BowlTV and Bowling TV, the free 24-hour channel dedicated entirely to bowling, which can be found on Prime Video, LG Channels, Xumo Play, DISH TV, Bonusview, Sling Freestream, Plex, Free Live Sports and Bowling TV’s Roku app.
While the National Tour season has come to a close, the Regional Tour season continues Aug. 30 with the PWBA Wichita Regional in Wichita, Kansas. For more information on the PWBA Regional Tour, click HERE.