Diamond Decade
July 31, 2025
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Heartbroken. That’s the best way Liz Johnson can describe her reaction in 2003 when she and everyone else learned the Professional Women’s Bowling Association ceased operation. She believes she was at the height of her career having been on tour for seven years. She had won 11 titles, which included two majors, thriving at the age of 29. She wasn’t about to give up on her dreams.
“I, and a lot of other women, found ways to try to make a living while also finding out what to do next in life. Fortunately, the PBA said, ‘We are going to let the women become members if they want to,’ and that is what I did,” Johnson said.
She bowled in leagues, pre-tournament qualifiers (PTQs) on the PBA, and worked on the side in a pro shop. She also traveled overseas to compete, winning a title in Germany in 2006, as she never stopped bowling.
Living in western New York, a hotbed of competitive bowling, she hit up tournaments almost every weekend. All of this kept her sharp as she and other female bowlers awaited some good news. It took 12 years, but that good news finally came, and Johnson has been a major threat ever since.
As the relaunched PWBA celebrates its 10th anniversary with the 2025 season, Johnson continues to make history. In May, she was inducted in the PWBA Hall of Fame with her 25 career titles. Her dedication to the game, ability to stay healthy and in shape, and her focus on always being ready when an opportunity arises, make her elite.
And now, she is about to become even more legendary. There are only four women who have lifetime earnings of over one million dollars. Those are Leanne Hulsenberg, Tish Johnson, Wendy Macpherson and Aleta Sill. Coming into this season, Johnson was less than $25,000 away from joining the millionaire club.
“My early years, Aleta Sill was one that I looked up to. Wendy was the second one I looked up to. It is not easy to make a living through bowling,” Johnson said. “I have been very fortunate winning those majors; it adds up. It is a lot of years; seven years the first time and 10 the second time. I am very proud of the fact I have been able to bowl so many tournaments. To hit that mark would be pretty awesome. Hopefully, I can this year.”
Johnson and Kelly Kulick, along with Diandra Asbaty, Shannon Pluhowsky, Maria José Rodriguez and Diana Zavjalova comprise an exclusive group of players who retroactively earned titles for majors won during the PWBA Tour’s hiatus before going on to win again since its 2015 relaunch.
“I am proud that I was able to bowl on both sides of the tour — the 90s and the relaunch — and I have been able to do it for as long as I have,” Johnson said. “As you get older, you have to work that much harder because you have to keep up with the younger kids. I push myself every single day to say, ‘Yeah, I can still do this, and I can still win.’”
Current PWBA Tour Brand Manager Robyn Graves understands the challenge Johnson puts to herself with those words, just as she believes Johnson to be up to such a challenge.
“It’s hard to win out here. The stakes are probably higher every week because it is literally anyone’s game. Everybody is hungry to win, and the talent is there, from the youth to the living legends,” she said. "There is the resurgence of talent from international to youth but then there also are Liz and Kelly, who are still competitive and still a major factor.”
Bowl Fearless
During the tour’s 12-year tour hiatus, there were still major women’s tournaments held. Johnson and Kulick made the most of those opportunities. After winning the 2003 U.S. Women’s Open, Kulick won the USBC Queens in 2007 and 2010, and the U.S. Women’s Open in 2010 and 2012. That is to say nothing of her historic victory in the 2010 PBA Tournament of Champions.
Johnson added three majors to her already-impressive résumé at the time, winning the 2007 U.S Women’s Open, 2009 USBC Queens and the 2013 U.S. Women’s Open. When the PWBA Tour re-launched, she won the first major tournament, the USBC Queens in Wisconsin. She added two more wins that season, including the U.S. Women’s Open again, on the way to her first of three straight Player of the Year awards.
“It meant a lot, because you had all of these great young women for those 12 years that never got the opportunity that I got to have. Coming out of high school and college, they were able to show their talents as well,” Johnson said. “For me, it was like you got your job back and being able to compete on a more consistent basis.”
From College Stars to World Beaters
Elysia Current won the first regular-season event in 2015 at the PWBA Storm Sacramento Open. After the win, she mentioned that the tour folded when she graduated high school and everything she had looked forward to had to be put on hold. To then be able to join the tour and win was a “dream come true.”
Kulick was named the official spokesperson for the tour when it re-launched. She, like all of the other female bowlers, was thrilled with the news. This opened the door to a new generation of female bowlers to live out their dreams on the lanes. Young women from overseas, like Dasha Kovalova, were being recruited to colleges in the U.S. Soon, they were on the PWBA Tour making their presence felt. In 2016 and 2017 respectively, international players Hui Fen New and Daria Pajak were named Rookies of the Year.
Last year, Malaysia’s Sin Li Jane dominated the tour, winning two majors and two standard titles while earning $154,570 and a Player of the Year honor. This was her first return to the tour in three years.
“When I first left Malaysia, I knew I was going to be alone and I will be my own biggest supporter,” Sin said. “You have to have a tough heart.”
Coming into this season, she has cashed in 24 out of 25 events, made 15 match-play appearances, and nine championship-round appearances to go along with her five titles. When Johnson was on Team USA, she was well aware of the international talent, and they were all thrilled to be able to compete against the best in the world.
“Columbia, Venezuela, Mexico, Singapore, Malaysia, Korea. There is so much great talent out there and we are all in awe of them,” Johnson said. “Li Jane had a phenomenal year last year. I always knew she was incredible. I respect them and when you get that great talent it motivates you. You know you need to step up your game even more.”
The Lost Souls
Tennelle Milligan gets emotional thinking about the years she lost on tour. She was in her mid-20s when she won the 2000 U.S. Women’s Open and 2000 Hammer Players Championship. She never wants to see professional female bowlers experience the pain and heartbreak she, Brenda Mack, Tiffany Stanbrough, Kulick and so many others felt when the tour stopped. There were just two tournaments left in the 2003 tour season when Ladies Pro Bowlers Tour (now the PWBA) co-founder John Sommer Jr. delivered the shattering news to the players.
“I will never forget John Sommer. He had tears in his eyes, and he never wanted to tell us the tour was going to fold. It was so sad,” Milligan said, as she tried to hold back tears. “My roommate (Kendra Gaines) and I were driving after that saying, ‘Alright, we have got to win them all. The tour is going to come back in a little bit.’”
In what she described as a crazy week, Milligan won the 2003 Greater Memphis Open, as the only right-hander in the stepladder finals. The following week, Gaines finished second. The roommates almost pulled it off. They both committed to bowling everything they could to try to stay sharp. Milligan admits she had no desire to bowl on the PBA Tour when the opportunity was offered to the women, instead bowling regionals. She won the 2005 USBC Queens and traveled overseas to win the 2007 European Women’s Masters.
When the announcement of the return came more than a decade later, Milligan was happy working full-time at USBC and raising a child. Motivated to support women’s bowling while being off the lanes, she was sent out on the PWBA Tour to shadow the director of operations, Damon Sarrocco. Little did she know at the time that he was planning to step away from his position.
“Mr. DeSocio and Mr. Murphy called me into the office and asked, ‘Do you want to go out on tour? You can run a tournament,’” Milligan said. “I was deeply honored. Of course, I said, ‘Yes.’ I was the director of operations longer than I was an actual PWBA athlete on tour, strictly because it folded.”
She relied on the experiences she had as a professional bowler, communicating with tournament directors like Sarrocco and Fran Deken, while putting her own spin on things. If a hall of famer walked into a tournament venue, she made an announcement so everyone knew they were in the presence of a legend. She wanted the players to notice them and gain appreciation for those who paved the way for them. She treated all competitors the same, regardless of whether they were close friends. While she was in the director of operations position from June 2016 to Nov. 2023, she still wanted to be on the lanes competing.
“Every day, in the sense that they were so fortunate to be able to experience this. I was very fortunate to experience it, too, but I was gypped. I never hit my prime,” she said, passionately. “All of the girls who hit their prime were at the age of 30. Kelly joined the year after I did; we got gypped. I call us the lost souls.”
The nickname comes from a scene in the move “Beetlejuice,” referring to the images of lost souls appearing in windows within a hallway. Milligan considers those who joined the PWBA Tour between 1998 and 2003 the lost souls. Several had won titles but never got the opportunity to compete during their prime, leaving them all wondering what might have been.
“A few of us will never have the opportunity to be thought of for the PWBA Hall of Fame because we will never have the credentials to do so. At 23, I am not thinking of any of that, but now at 50, I am like, ‘Wow, I lost a lot of years,’” Milligan said. “It changed lives; it changed lives completely. That is why I don’t want these young ladies who have joined the tour now to ever experience that heartbreak that a bunch of us did. I will fight for them, that is why I am so emotional, because I care. You still have a tour to compete on, so be grateful you have a place to showcase your talent.”
Since Milligan, like Deken, had a different perspective having been a competitor prior to the director of operations role, there were times she witnessed a bowler openly complain about having to bowl in a pro-am. Even though she could relate with them at times, Milligan tried to take them under her wing like Macpherson and Carol Gianotti had done for her.
“I looked them in the face and said, ‘You are so lucky you get to do this because we didn’t.’ I would take off my high heels and hand them over to a few ladies when they would start to complain and said, ‘Hey, you want me to keep these shoes on and fight for you behind the scenes or do you want me to go back and practice and take your check?’ That was my experience as tournament director to put it into perspective that you guys are very fortunate,” Milligan said. “I am very fortunate and lucky in the sense that I had a pretty phenomenal short career.”
More to Come
There have been so many incredible moments on the PWBA Tour and there are so many more to come.
Already this season, Josie Barnes, who won the largest first-place prize of $100,000 at the 2021 U.S. Women’s Open, won her fifth career title and second major at the 2025 USBC Queens, along with a $60,000 check.
International stars continue to shine bright with Singapore’s Shayna Ng winning her third title, while her teammate Hui Fen New won back-to-back tournaments to get to four career titles. Kulick made back-to-back TV shows, and 2021 PWBA Rookie of the Year Stephanie Zavala won her sixth career title.
“There is a new group coming to challenge the status quo within the competitions. They are talented, have likely been better trained because of the advancements in training, coaching, technology and competitive opportunities,” USBC Executive Director Chad Murphy said. “I’m guessing they will also be hungry to be ‘what’s next’ on tour. I think they will be exactly that. Will be fun to follow along.”
In the early stages of the relaunch, Murphy asked Jason Thomas to run the tour. He noticed the early excitement for the return of the tour was “off the charts.” In order for that excitement to be sustained and continue, he knew they all had to do an excellent job of running the tour “so that the product, which was the amazing athletes and their stories and their pursuit of greatness, could rise to the forefront to serve its intended purpose, which is to inspire young girls to bowl and to know that they would always have a place to pursue their dreams,” Thomas said.
PWBA Revival
It was DeSocio, former Strike Ten Entertainment president and current Bowling Proprietors’ Association of America Executive Director, who was determined to find a way to get the women back on the lanes competing after the PWBA Tour ceased. Thanks to a few promotions and their joint efforts, DeSocio and Murphy worked together to make the resurgence of the PWBA Tour a reality. According to Murphy, DeSocio initially approached him about the idea of bringing the tour back. At the time, Murphy was working at Columbia Industries and DeSocio wondered if Columbia would support the tour. Nothing developed at that time, but the seed was planted by DeSocio. A few years later, when Murphy became the managing director of youth development with the International Bowling Congress, DeSocio saw an opportunity and paid Murphy a visit.
“Frank walks into my office with a huge stack of historical documents related to the PWBA. He asked if I would pen a business plan to bring back the tour,” Murphy recalled. “My initial answer was, ‘No.’ After some discussion, he said, ‘Okay, I’m just going to leave this here in case you change your mind.’”
Murphy drafted a business plan that provided a framework for a feasible re-launch and provided DeSocio with a copy. A couple of years later, in June 2014, Murphy was named USBC Executive Director and the following month DeSocio became the Executive Director of the BPAA. In their new positions, DeSocio reminded Murphy about the business plan. They immediately decided to ask each of their board of directors for a task force and from there they were off and running, Murphy said. The BPAA and USBC agreed on a three-year funding commitment and the PWBA Tour re-launched in May 2015.
“Feels like yesterday honestly. I have a bowling pin in my office here with the folks from the task force that met that day. I asked them to sign it for me at the end of the day,” Murphy added. “My name’s not on it, the others are. They did the work. We and everyone involved in this venture, including the athletes, were just lucky that day that a group from these two organizations that don’t always agree could share a vision on that particular day, on this particular topic.”
The partnership reminds Murphy of an old quote he loves about small groups of people doing incredible things by author Margaret Mead: ‘Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.’”
DeSocio added in a press release: “The PWBA Tour re-launch project is a testament to the industry’s ability to unite in order to do what is best for bowling.” This month, at the International Bowl Expo 2025 in Washington D.C., DeSocio will be inducted into the 2025 BPAA Hall of Fame and receive the Victor Lerner Memorial Medal, which is the highest honor awarded by the BPAA. It recognizes an individual for a lifetime of service to the bowling industry.
The driving force to keep the relaunch idea alive was Frank DeSocio in Murphy’s eyes. Yet, the driving force to make it happen was the will of that small group of thoughtful, committed, volunteers, Murphy said. He felt it was important to bring the PWBA Tour back not only for the sport and the bowlers, but also the “7-year-old girls.” The return gave the next generation someone to look up to and see they could also become professional bowlers. At every women’s tournament, and at the annual Junior Gold trade show, Murphy saw lines of young girls waiting to meet PWBA stars. That’s all the proof he needs to see how impactful this investment was and continues to be.
Yearly Recaps
Over the past nine seasons, bowling enthusiasts have enjoyed countless exciting, emotional and shocking moments in the rejuvenation of the PWBA Tour. International bowlers have shined in the limited number of tournaments they compete in each season. New, impressive upcoming talent never looked rattled as they made their way into match play battling against those who were at times a decade older than them.
“It’s been super exciting. Ladies who’ve never made a cut before are making cuts. The excitement around it being the 10th anniversary has been tremendous,” Graves said. “The energy has everyone trying harder to get a title because to be in that conversation of getting a win during this season is special.”
Let’s take a look back at the past nine years…
There is no denying the greatness that is Liz Johnson. In 2015, she was more than ready to compete and that was apparent immediately. The Tour returned with Johnson becoming the ninth bowler in PWBA history to win multiple titles at the Queens. The next major of the season was the iconic U.S. Women’s Open and it only seemed fitting two of the tours biggest stars were in the championship match. Shannon O’Keefe led Johnson going into the 10th frame where she left the 1-2-4-10 wash out and gave Johnson her opening.
“As far as the TV show goes, it was probably one of the hardest ones I have ever bowled on. All she needed to do was mark. She got a little quick and washed out for an open,” Johnson recalled. “I took a deep breath. I picked up the 4 pin. Needing seven to win by one pin, I did it. That was an insane U.S. Open because they were so hard. You have to prepare for anything.”
It was Johnson’s fourth U.S Open win and seventh major title. She went on to lead the tour in average (214.81), wins (3) and earnings ($92,700) on the way to being named Player of the Year.
First-time tour winners that season included Elysia Current, Stefanie Johnson — who was named Rookie of the Year — Amanda Greene and Danielle McEwan. McEwan’s first title happened to also be a major at The Smithfield PWBA Tour Championship. She closed out her match against Stefanie Johnson with six straight strikes for the win. Singapore’s Jazreel Tan got a win as a non-member. After the win she said, “Hopefully, this will open the door for more bowlers from Asia to be able to come here to compete against the best.”
In 2016, Tan’s wish came true as three of her Team Singapore teammates won their first titles.
Bernice Lim raised the trophy at the USBC Queens to become the first player from Singapore to win the major. Cherie Tan picked up her first title and first by a left-hander since 2003. Then at The Smithfield PWBA Tour Championship, Hui Fen New defeated Tan in the championship match, 258-235. Fen was named Rookie of the Year.
Bryanna Coté won her first title. Josie Barnes climbed the stepladder to win her first title, as did Clara Guerrero, winning a major. Rocio Restrepo earned her first and second titles, while O’Keefe won three times.
Liz Johnson added two more major titles to her resume in 2017, along with a standard title. One of the majors was her fourth straight U.S. Women’s Open, which she climbed the ladder to win her 10th career major. Kulick earned her first title in 11 championship-round appearances dating back to 2015. Zavjalova also won her second major at the USBC Queens.
Siti Safiyah became the first Malaysian bowler to win a title as she defeated fellow Team Malaysia teammate Sin Li Jane in the title match. Safiyah said, “This win is really prestigious for our country.” At the very next tournament, Sin got the victory. Pajak collected her first title, and Stefanie Johnson returned from maternity leave, climbing the ladder to win her second title. O’Keefe ended the season with two titles, including her first major at The Smithfield PWBA Tour Championship.
It was Liz Kuhlkin at the 2018 U.S. Women’s Open who made a huge move. As the No. 64 seed, she defeated No. 1 seed Stefanie Johnson in bracket match play. She went on to earn the No. 5 seed for the TV show and she ran the ladder — just as she did to get her first title in 2015.
O’Keefe won two titles in the first four events, including defeating Liz Johnson and Coté at the USBC Queens to win her first Player of the Year award. Another Team Singapore bowler joined the fun as Shayna Ng won her first title. And 22-year-old Jordan (Richard) Snodgrass finished her college bowling career and immediately made the stepladder finals in five events, winning a title in her fourth event and Rookie of the Year honors.
The 2019 season was memorable for O’Keefe. After winning four standard titles, she finished the season with her third major title at the PWBA Tour Championship. O’Keefe set a new record for most wins in a season, since Carolyn-Dorin Ballard won seven titles in 2001. O’Keefe led the tour in earnings ($87,275) and won back-to-back Player of the Year awards.
Kovalova also had a season to remember. She calmly doubled in the 10th frame at the USBC Queens to defeat Sin, winning her first major title. On National Bowling Day, she made PWBA history, becoming the fourth player to roll a televised 300 game at the Pepsi PWBA Louisville Open in the title match against Liz Johnson.
“I cried for her. I am an emotional wreck as I have gotten older, when people succeed,” Johnson said. “I was genuinely happy for Dasha. I remember just throwing shots to get out of her way.”
At the U.S. Women’s Open, McEwan was pushed to perform, and she stepped up. In the semifinal match, she struck out in the 10th to defeat O’Keefe, 229-225. In the title match, Tannya Roumimper needed a double in the 10th to shut out McEwan. She struck on the first shot and after a re-rack, she pounded the pocket, leaving a solid 7 pin, which she converted. McEwan needed 28 pins for the win. She delivered a solid double, and her final shot went through the nose knocking down nine for the win.
More heartbreak in 2019 was witnessed at the Fountain Valley Open. Sandra Andersson left a 7-10 in the ninth frame for an open, then followed it up by striking out in the clutch. She sat down having given Coté her chance at the victory. Coté left a stone 8 pin, stunningly giving Andersson her first career title.
After no season in 2020 due to the pandemic, history was made multiple times in 2021. There were 20 events on the tour schedule, which was the most since 2001. Jillian Martin lived up to the hype. The 17-year-old finished eighth-, second- and third-place finishes at the Kickoff Classic Series. Then she became the youngest player to win a national tour event at the BowlTV Classic. Josie Barnes won the largest top prize in PWBA history with $100,000 at the U.S. Women’s Open. Stephanie Zavala stormed onto the scene, becoming the first rookie to win three titles, since Leanne Hulsenberg in 1987. Zavala was named Rookie of the Year. Julia Bond collected two titles by climbing the ladder and a major at the USBC Queens. And Shannon Pluhowsky won her first title since 2006 at the Tour Championship.
Erin McCarthy earned her first major title at the U.S. Women’s Open in 2022. She climbed the ladder for her title. In match two, O’Keefe needed a double and eight to defeat McCarthy. She got the double, then went through the nose, leaving the dreaded Greek church for a two-pin loss. Zavala followed up her rookie campaign with her first major title in 2022 at the Tour Championship. She put on a show, averaging more than 250 in her three stepladder wins. History was made at the St. Petersburg-Clearwater Open during qualifying as Breanna Clemmer posted a 1,595 six-game block, ending with games of 289, 300, 300 and 279. Those final three games broke the PWBA Tour record for highest three-game set with 879. Clemmer closed out the week with a title over Coté.
Coté got a bit of redemption in the following tournament at the BVL Classic. As the No. 4 seed, she dominated the stepladder with games of 289, 243 and 278 to get to the title match. McEwan left a 7-10 split in the fifth frame then left the same split back-to-back in the eighth and ninth frames as Coté got the win. O’Keefe won Player of the Year with one win, seven stepladders and a lowest season finish of ninth in 12 events as she battled a hip injury.
Jordan (Richard) Snodgrass was a force to reckon with in 2023. She rolled three perfect games during the season, made six championship-round appearances and won three standard titles while leading the tour in average at 219.69. She won two titles within four days, earning her first Player of the Year award. Maria José Rodriguez, who seems to love major tournaments, earned her third major title at the Tour Championship.
Major titles are hard to come by, especially at the U.S. Women’s Open. Coté posted the lowest winning score in tour history defeating Guerrero, 153-142, to win the coveted green jacket. Coté made a bold ball change in the 10th frame, knowing she needed nine pins for the win. Her delivery went through the nose, leaving the 3-6-10. Her ball came in heavy on the 3 pin and the 10 pin was late to fall as she got the spare and ultimately the win. José Rodriguez, Lindsay Boomershine and Snodgrass all made more than $90,000 in 2023, while Coté made the fourth highest amount at $89,214.
That brings us to 2024, a season in which Sin Li Jane won four times, including two majors at the U.S. Women’s Open and the Tour Championship, to be named Player of the Year. Sin simply delivered perfectly every time she needed to. The Tour Championship was filled with storyline and big moments. Missy Parkin, as the first alternate, stepped in for Zavjalova in the second round of match play after Zavjalova withdrew. Parkin posted an 11-5 match play record as she overcame a large deficit to earn the No. 5 seed. She won her first two matches to then face Sin in the semifinal. Parkin needed a mark to win but left a split and couldn’t convert. In the title match, Snodgrass needed a double and good count to shut out Sin. She aced her first shot, then left a 7-10 split. Sin, needing a double and six for the win, flushed all three shots to put an exclamation point on her dream season.
Jillian Martin made more history in 2024, becoming the youngest player to win a major at 19. She did that at the USBC Queens as she defeated Hope Gramly 267-220. Lauren Russo earned her first PWBA title in style at the Southern Indiana Open. After Snodgrass struck out in the 10th frame, Russo needed a strike to win, and she got it. Russo earned the victory, 267-259, in the second-highest combined total score in a title match since the relaunch.
In this 10th anniversary and beyond, there are more big moments to come.
“I think the best part about having a tour is that we get to see greatness unfold every day. If you pay attention to it, it inspires you to be better at whatever it is that you are doing, whether it's bowling, or running a tour, or just going to your everyday job,” Jason Thomas said. “I predict that will continue, and that over the next 5-10 years we will see someone — likely several athletes — make their mark on the sport like Liz Johnson, Shannon O'Keefe, Danielle McEwan and many others have done in the first 10 years.”
Graves echoes that sentiment.
“Where the WNBA is right now is where I would like the PWBA Tour to be in the next few years. The excitement and growth they’ve seen is definitely something I think is deserved of the ladies here in professional bowling,” she said, adding that, “We have created a pipeline like other sports have. College bowling has grown in terms of the talent that is there.”
Top overall averages since relaunch (from 2015-2024)
1. Sin Li Jane 215.20
2. Jordan Richard 214.02
3. Shannon O’Keefe 213.98
4. Danielle McEwan 212.42
5. Stefanie Johnson 212.34
6. Shannon Pluhowsky 212.27
7. Liz Johnson 211.77
8. Cherie Tan 211.10
9. Diana Zavjalova 211.00
10. Kelly Kulick 210.96
Top averages by year since relaunch
2024: 1. Cherie Tan 218.27 2. Shannon Pluhowsky 217.83 3. Jordan Richard 215.59 4. Verity Crawley 215.58 5. Hui Fen New 214.68
2023: 1. Jordan Richard 219.69 2. Bryanna Coté 216.04 3. Shannon Pluhowsky 215.60 4. Diana Zavjalova 215.23 5. Birgit Noreiks 214.03
2022: 1. Shannon O’Keefe 214. 94 2. Danielle McEwan 213.64 3. Jordan Richard 212.04 4. Bryanna Coté 211.22 5. Missy Parkin 211.16
2021: 1. Shannon O’Keefe 214.73 2. Shannon Pluhowsky 214.51 3. Bryanna Coté 213.75 4. Stefanie Johnson 213.29 5. Kelly Kulick 213.18
2019: 1. Cherie Tan 220.06 2. Sin Li Jane 218.10 3. Shannon O’Keefe 215.63 4. Sarah Germano 214.19 5. Danielle McEwan 211.48
2018: 1. Erin McCarthy 217.46 2. Jordan Richard 217.43 3. Danielle McEwan 216.41 4. Shannon O’Keefe 216.27 5. Esther Cheah 216.18
2017: 1. Jenny Wegner 218.89 2. Stefanie Johnson 218.48 3. Nicole Trudell 216.76 4. Liz Johnson 214.37 5. Cherie Tan 214.05
2016: 1. Sin Li Jane 219.99 2. Shannon O’Keefe 214.31 3. Diana Zavjalova 214.11 4. Brenda Padilla 214.05 5. Rocio Restrepo 213.55
2015: 1. Liz Johnson 214.81 2. Danielle McEwan 214.27 3. Kelly Kulick 213.88 4. Stefanie Johnson 211.74 5. Diana Zavjalova 211.43
Top prize money earnings since relaunch
2024: 1. Sin Li Jane $154,570 2. Jordan Richard $61,755 3. Shannon Pluhowsky $58,478 4. Diana Zavjalova $52,610 5. Verity Crawley $49,808
2023: 1. Maria José Rodriguez $98,754 2. Lindsay Boomershine $93,245 3. Jordan Richard $91,365 4. Bryanna Coté $89,214 5. Dasha Kovalova $60,534
2022: 1. Birgit Noreiks $79,300 2. Danielle McEwan $77,950 3. Shannon O’ Keefe $76,200 4. Erin McCarthy $72,225 5. Stephanie Zavala $66,550
2021: 1. Josie Barnes $106,550 2. Shannon Pluhowsky $84,500 3. Bryanna Coté $70,125 4. Stephanie Zavala $69,000 5. Julia Bond $60,000
2019: 1. Shannon O’Keefe $87,275 2. Dasha Kovalova $67,675 3. Danielle McEwan $51,000 4. Cherie Tan $34,600 5. Jordan Richard $31,550
2018: 1. Shannon O’Keefe $61,925 2. Stefanie Johnson $50,675 3. Danielle McEwan $48,975 4. Liz Kuhlkin $41,350 5. Maria José Rodriguez $40,562
2017: 1. Liz Johnson $83,500 2. Kelly Kulick $48,700 3. Shannon O’Keefe $47,100 4. Diana Zavjalova $42,700 5. Danielle McEwan $35,350
2016: 1. Liz Johnson $60,200 2. Rocio Restrepo $46,400 3. Shannon O’Keefe $46,240 4. Clara Guerrero $43,300 5. Shannon Pluhowsky $37,900
2015: 1. Liz Johnson $92,700 2. Danielle McEwan $42,350 3. Stefanie Johnson $40,350 4. Shannon O’Keefe $37,100 5. Kelly Kulick $29,550
Top lifetime earnings (from 1960-June 7, 2025)
1. Wendy Macpherson $1,198,135
2. Aleta Sill $1,071,194
3. Tish Johnson $1,070,362
4. Leanne Hulsenberg $1,056,993
5. Liz Johnson $978,378
Top earnings since the relaunch (from 2015-June 7, 2025)
1. Shannon O’Keefe $437,259
2. Liz Johnson $427,226
3. Danielle McEwan $397,506
4. Bryanna Coté $371,661
5. Shannon Pluhowsky $338,775
Top 5 all-time winners (1960-June 7, 2025)
1. Lisa Wagner 32
2. Aleta Sill 31
3. Leanne Hulsenberg 27
4. Patty Costello 25
Liz Johnson
Tish Johnson
Top 5 winners since the relaunch (2015-June 7, 2025)
1. Shannon O’Keefe 15
2. Liz Johnson 11
3. Danielle McEwan 9
4. Jordan Snodgrass 6
5. Stephanie Zavala 6
Most Championship Round Appearances since the relaunch (2015-June 7, 2025)
1. Shannon O’Keefe 34
2. Danielle McEwan 32
3. Liz Johnson 25
4. Kelly Kulick 25
5. Shannon Pluhowsky 24
Most cashes since the relaunch (2015-June 7,2025)
1. Diana Zavjalova 102
2. Danielle McEwan 100
3. Bryanna Coté 98
4. Liz Johnson 98
5. Maria José Rodriguez 93
Team of the Decade since the relaunch (2015-2024):
1. Liz Johnson 11 titles (five majors), three-time Player of the Year (2015-2017)
2. Shannon O’Keefe 15 titles (3 majors), three-time Player of the Year (2018, ’19 and ’22)
3. Danielle McEwan 8 titles (2 majors)
4. Sin Li Jane 5 titles (2 majors), Player of the Year (2024)
5. Diana Zavjalova 5 titles (2 majors)
Second Team
1. Stefanie Johnson 4 titles (1 major), Rookie of the Year (2015)
2. Jordan Snodgrass 6 titles, Player of the Year (2023) and Rookie of the Year (2018)
3. Cherie Tan 5 titles (1 major)
4. Josie Barnes 5 titles (2 majors)
5. Bryanna Coté 5 titles (1 major), Player of the Year (2021)
Honorable Mention
1. Dasha Kovalova 5 titles (1 major)
2. Stephanie Zavala 6 titles (1 major), Rookie of the Year (2021)
3. Shannon Pluhowsky 4 titles (2 majors)
4. Maria José Rodriguez 3 titles (3 majors)
5. Verity Crawley 2 titles
Top 10 difference makers since the relaunch
You might wonder what it means to be a difference maker. These are bowlers who have proven themselves with their constant cashes, match-play appearances and titles. For those like Jillian Martin, Sin Li Jane and Cherie Tan, they don’t typically bowl at every event, but when they are in a tournament, they make their way near the top of the standings. For a bowler like Verity Crawley with two career standard titles, she has put herself in position to get more wins and she is due for a breakout season. Her constant engagement on social media is drawing more fans and attention to the PWBA, which makes her an all-around different maker.
1. Liz Johnson
2. Shannon O’Keefe
3. Jillian Martin
4. Sin Li Jane
5. Jordan Snodgrass
6. Kelly Kulick
7. Danielle McEwan
8. Cherie Tan
9. Diana Zavjalova
10. Verity Crawley
Rookie of the Year
2024: Crystal Elliott
2023: Hope Gramly
2022: Olivia Farwell
2021: Stephanie Zavala
2019: Valerie Bercier
2018: Jordan Snodgrass
2017: Daria Pajak
2016: Hui Fen New
2015: Stefanie Johnson
Top 10 PWBA Moments since the relaunch
As the PWBA celebrates its 10th anniversary since the relaunch, current competitors will continue to be pushed by younger talent that is quickly coming up. The next generation of PWBA stars have already been proving that they are tournament ready thanks to their finishes at Junior Gold and Elite Youth Tour events available to them. These are 10 collegiate bowlers and 10 players under the age of 18 to keep a close eye on. The PWBA Tour is in good hands and the talent will keep flourishing for years and decades to come.
10 College players for the next decade
Katelyn Abigania, Gianna Brandolino, Dannielle Henderson, Samantha Kanehailua, Erin Klemencic, Eliana Occhino, Kaitlyn Stull, Abigail Starkey, Elizabeth Teuber and Victorya White
10 players under 18 to watch over the next decade
Anna Antony, Alyssa Bechtol, Malia Briggs, Bella Castillo, Trishna Desai, Lindsay Greim, Taylor Kretz, Alexandra McCowan, Alyssa Randisi and Larielle Tharps
“I, and a lot of other women, found ways to try to make a living while also finding out what to do next in life. Fortunately, the PBA said, ‘We are going to let the women become members if they want to,’ and that is what I did,” Johnson said.
She bowled in leagues, pre-tournament qualifiers (PTQs) on the PBA, and worked on the side in a pro shop. She also traveled overseas to compete, winning a title in Germany in 2006, as she never stopped bowling.
Living in western New York, a hotbed of competitive bowling, she hit up tournaments almost every weekend. All of this kept her sharp as she and other female bowlers awaited some good news. It took 12 years, but that good news finally came, and Johnson has been a major threat ever since.
As the relaunched PWBA celebrates its 10th anniversary with the 2025 season, Johnson continues to make history. In May, she was inducted in the PWBA Hall of Fame with her 25 career titles. Her dedication to the game, ability to stay healthy and in shape, and her focus on always being ready when an opportunity arises, make her elite.
And now, she is about to become even more legendary. There are only four women who have lifetime earnings of over one million dollars. Those are Leanne Hulsenberg, Tish Johnson, Wendy Macpherson and Aleta Sill. Coming into this season, Johnson was less than $25,000 away from joining the millionaire club.
“My early years, Aleta Sill was one that I looked up to. Wendy was the second one I looked up to. It is not easy to make a living through bowling,” Johnson said. “I have been very fortunate winning those majors; it adds up. It is a lot of years; seven years the first time and 10 the second time. I am very proud of the fact I have been able to bowl so many tournaments. To hit that mark would be pretty awesome. Hopefully, I can this year.”
Johnson and Kelly Kulick, along with Diandra Asbaty, Shannon Pluhowsky, Maria José Rodriguez and Diana Zavjalova comprise an exclusive group of players who retroactively earned titles for majors won during the PWBA Tour’s hiatus before going on to win again since its 2015 relaunch.
“I am proud that I was able to bowl on both sides of the tour — the 90s and the relaunch — and I have been able to do it for as long as I have,” Johnson said. “As you get older, you have to work that much harder because you have to keep up with the younger kids. I push myself every single day to say, ‘Yeah, I can still do this, and I can still win.’”
Current PWBA Tour Brand Manager Robyn Graves understands the challenge Johnson puts to herself with those words, just as she believes Johnson to be up to such a challenge.
“It’s hard to win out here. The stakes are probably higher every week because it is literally anyone’s game. Everybody is hungry to win, and the talent is there, from the youth to the living legends,” she said. "There is the resurgence of talent from international to youth but then there also are Liz and Kelly, who are still competitive and still a major factor.”
Bowl Fearless
During the tour’s 12-year tour hiatus, there were still major women’s tournaments held. Johnson and Kulick made the most of those opportunities. After winning the 2003 U.S. Women’s Open, Kulick won the USBC Queens in 2007 and 2010, and the U.S. Women’s Open in 2010 and 2012. That is to say nothing of her historic victory in the 2010 PBA Tournament of Champions.
Johnson added three majors to her already-impressive résumé at the time, winning the 2007 U.S Women’s Open, 2009 USBC Queens and the 2013 U.S. Women’s Open. When the PWBA Tour re-launched, she won the first major tournament, the USBC Queens in Wisconsin. She added two more wins that season, including the U.S. Women’s Open again, on the way to her first of three straight Player of the Year awards.
“It meant a lot, because you had all of these great young women for those 12 years that never got the opportunity that I got to have. Coming out of high school and college, they were able to show their talents as well,” Johnson said. “For me, it was like you got your job back and being able to compete on a more consistent basis.”
From College Stars to World Beaters
Elysia Current won the first regular-season event in 2015 at the PWBA Storm Sacramento Open. After the win, she mentioned that the tour folded when she graduated high school and everything she had looked forward to had to be put on hold. To then be able to join the tour and win was a “dream come true.”
Kulick was named the official spokesperson for the tour when it re-launched. She, like all of the other female bowlers, was thrilled with the news. This opened the door to a new generation of female bowlers to live out their dreams on the lanes. Young women from overseas, like Dasha Kovalova, were being recruited to colleges in the U.S. Soon, they were on the PWBA Tour making their presence felt. In 2016 and 2017 respectively, international players Hui Fen New and Daria Pajak were named Rookies of the Year.
Last year, Malaysia’s Sin Li Jane dominated the tour, winning two majors and two standard titles while earning $154,570 and a Player of the Year honor. This was her first return to the tour in three years.
“When I first left Malaysia, I knew I was going to be alone and I will be my own biggest supporter,” Sin said. “You have to have a tough heart.”
Coming into this season, she has cashed in 24 out of 25 events, made 15 match-play appearances, and nine championship-round appearances to go along with her five titles. When Johnson was on Team USA, she was well aware of the international talent, and they were all thrilled to be able to compete against the best in the world.
“Columbia, Venezuela, Mexico, Singapore, Malaysia, Korea. There is so much great talent out there and we are all in awe of them,” Johnson said. “Li Jane had a phenomenal year last year. I always knew she was incredible. I respect them and when you get that great talent it motivates you. You know you need to step up your game even more.”
The Lost Souls
Tennelle Milligan gets emotional thinking about the years she lost on tour. She was in her mid-20s when she won the 2000 U.S. Women’s Open and 2000 Hammer Players Championship. She never wants to see professional female bowlers experience the pain and heartbreak she, Brenda Mack, Tiffany Stanbrough, Kulick and so many others felt when the tour stopped. There were just two tournaments left in the 2003 tour season when Ladies Pro Bowlers Tour (now the PWBA) co-founder John Sommer Jr. delivered the shattering news to the players.
“I will never forget John Sommer. He had tears in his eyes, and he never wanted to tell us the tour was going to fold. It was so sad,” Milligan said, as she tried to hold back tears. “My roommate (Kendra Gaines) and I were driving after that saying, ‘Alright, we have got to win them all. The tour is going to come back in a little bit.’”
In what she described as a crazy week, Milligan won the 2003 Greater Memphis Open, as the only right-hander in the stepladder finals. The following week, Gaines finished second. The roommates almost pulled it off. They both committed to bowling everything they could to try to stay sharp. Milligan admits she had no desire to bowl on the PBA Tour when the opportunity was offered to the women, instead bowling regionals. She won the 2005 USBC Queens and traveled overseas to win the 2007 European Women’s Masters.
When the announcement of the return came more than a decade later, Milligan was happy working full-time at USBC and raising a child. Motivated to support women’s bowling while being off the lanes, she was sent out on the PWBA Tour to shadow the director of operations, Damon Sarrocco. Little did she know at the time that he was planning to step away from his position.
“Mr. DeSocio and Mr. Murphy called me into the office and asked, ‘Do you want to go out on tour? You can run a tournament,’” Milligan said. “I was deeply honored. Of course, I said, ‘Yes.’ I was the director of operations longer than I was an actual PWBA athlete on tour, strictly because it folded.”
She relied on the experiences she had as a professional bowler, communicating with tournament directors like Sarrocco and Fran Deken, while putting her own spin on things. If a hall of famer walked into a tournament venue, she made an announcement so everyone knew they were in the presence of a legend. She wanted the players to notice them and gain appreciation for those who paved the way for them. She treated all competitors the same, regardless of whether they were close friends. While she was in the director of operations position from June 2016 to Nov. 2023, she still wanted to be on the lanes competing.
“Every day, in the sense that they were so fortunate to be able to experience this. I was very fortunate to experience it, too, but I was gypped. I never hit my prime,” she said, passionately. “All of the girls who hit their prime were at the age of 30. Kelly joined the year after I did; we got gypped. I call us the lost souls.”
The nickname comes from a scene in the move “Beetlejuice,” referring to the images of lost souls appearing in windows within a hallway. Milligan considers those who joined the PWBA Tour between 1998 and 2003 the lost souls. Several had won titles but never got the opportunity to compete during their prime, leaving them all wondering what might have been.
“A few of us will never have the opportunity to be thought of for the PWBA Hall of Fame because we will never have the credentials to do so. At 23, I am not thinking of any of that, but now at 50, I am like, ‘Wow, I lost a lot of years,’” Milligan said. “It changed lives; it changed lives completely. That is why I don’t want these young ladies who have joined the tour now to ever experience that heartbreak that a bunch of us did. I will fight for them, that is why I am so emotional, because I care. You still have a tour to compete on, so be grateful you have a place to showcase your talent.”
Since Milligan, like Deken, had a different perspective having been a competitor prior to the director of operations role, there were times she witnessed a bowler openly complain about having to bowl in a pro-am. Even though she could relate with them at times, Milligan tried to take them under her wing like Macpherson and Carol Gianotti had done for her.
“I looked them in the face and said, ‘You are so lucky you get to do this because we didn’t.’ I would take off my high heels and hand them over to a few ladies when they would start to complain and said, ‘Hey, you want me to keep these shoes on and fight for you behind the scenes or do you want me to go back and practice and take your check?’ That was my experience as tournament director to put it into perspective that you guys are very fortunate,” Milligan said. “I am very fortunate and lucky in the sense that I had a pretty phenomenal short career.”
More to Come
There have been so many incredible moments on the PWBA Tour and there are so many more to come.
Already this season, Josie Barnes, who won the largest first-place prize of $100,000 at the 2021 U.S. Women’s Open, won her fifth career title and second major at the 2025 USBC Queens, along with a $60,000 check.
International stars continue to shine bright with Singapore’s Shayna Ng winning her third title, while her teammate Hui Fen New won back-to-back tournaments to get to four career titles. Kulick made back-to-back TV shows, and 2021 PWBA Rookie of the Year Stephanie Zavala won her sixth career title.
“There is a new group coming to challenge the status quo within the competitions. They are talented, have likely been better trained because of the advancements in training, coaching, technology and competitive opportunities,” USBC Executive Director Chad Murphy said. “I’m guessing they will also be hungry to be ‘what’s next’ on tour. I think they will be exactly that. Will be fun to follow along.”
In the early stages of the relaunch, Murphy asked Jason Thomas to run the tour. He noticed the early excitement for the return of the tour was “off the charts.” In order for that excitement to be sustained and continue, he knew they all had to do an excellent job of running the tour “so that the product, which was the amazing athletes and their stories and their pursuit of greatness, could rise to the forefront to serve its intended purpose, which is to inspire young girls to bowl and to know that they would always have a place to pursue their dreams,” Thomas said.
PWBA Revival
It was DeSocio, former Strike Ten Entertainment president and current Bowling Proprietors’ Association of America Executive Director, who was determined to find a way to get the women back on the lanes competing after the PWBA Tour ceased. Thanks to a few promotions and their joint efforts, DeSocio and Murphy worked together to make the resurgence of the PWBA Tour a reality. According to Murphy, DeSocio initially approached him about the idea of bringing the tour back. At the time, Murphy was working at Columbia Industries and DeSocio wondered if Columbia would support the tour. Nothing developed at that time, but the seed was planted by DeSocio. A few years later, when Murphy became the managing director of youth development with the International Bowling Congress, DeSocio saw an opportunity and paid Murphy a visit.
“Frank walks into my office with a huge stack of historical documents related to the PWBA. He asked if I would pen a business plan to bring back the tour,” Murphy recalled. “My initial answer was, ‘No.’ After some discussion, he said, ‘Okay, I’m just going to leave this here in case you change your mind.’”
Murphy drafted a business plan that provided a framework for a feasible re-launch and provided DeSocio with a copy. A couple of years later, in June 2014, Murphy was named USBC Executive Director and the following month DeSocio became the Executive Director of the BPAA. In their new positions, DeSocio reminded Murphy about the business plan. They immediately decided to ask each of their board of directors for a task force and from there they were off and running, Murphy said. The BPAA and USBC agreed on a three-year funding commitment and the PWBA Tour re-launched in May 2015.
“Feels like yesterday honestly. I have a bowling pin in my office here with the folks from the task force that met that day. I asked them to sign it for me at the end of the day,” Murphy added. “My name’s not on it, the others are. They did the work. We and everyone involved in this venture, including the athletes, were just lucky that day that a group from these two organizations that don’t always agree could share a vision on that particular day, on this particular topic.”
The partnership reminds Murphy of an old quote he loves about small groups of people doing incredible things by author Margaret Mead: ‘Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.’”
DeSocio added in a press release: “The PWBA Tour re-launch project is a testament to the industry’s ability to unite in order to do what is best for bowling.” This month, at the International Bowl Expo 2025 in Washington D.C., DeSocio will be inducted into the 2025 BPAA Hall of Fame and receive the Victor Lerner Memorial Medal, which is the highest honor awarded by the BPAA. It recognizes an individual for a lifetime of service to the bowling industry.
The driving force to keep the relaunch idea alive was Frank DeSocio in Murphy’s eyes. Yet, the driving force to make it happen was the will of that small group of thoughtful, committed, volunteers, Murphy said. He felt it was important to bring the PWBA Tour back not only for the sport and the bowlers, but also the “7-year-old girls.” The return gave the next generation someone to look up to and see they could also become professional bowlers. At every women’s tournament, and at the annual Junior Gold trade show, Murphy saw lines of young girls waiting to meet PWBA stars. That’s all the proof he needs to see how impactful this investment was and continues to be.
Yearly Recaps
Over the past nine seasons, bowling enthusiasts have enjoyed countless exciting, emotional and shocking moments in the rejuvenation of the PWBA Tour. International bowlers have shined in the limited number of tournaments they compete in each season. New, impressive upcoming talent never looked rattled as they made their way into match play battling against those who were at times a decade older than them.
“It’s been super exciting. Ladies who’ve never made a cut before are making cuts. The excitement around it being the 10th anniversary has been tremendous,” Graves said. “The energy has everyone trying harder to get a title because to be in that conversation of getting a win during this season is special.”
Let’s take a look back at the past nine years…
There is no denying the greatness that is Liz Johnson. In 2015, she was more than ready to compete and that was apparent immediately. The Tour returned with Johnson becoming the ninth bowler in PWBA history to win multiple titles at the Queens. The next major of the season was the iconic U.S. Women’s Open and it only seemed fitting two of the tours biggest stars were in the championship match. Shannon O’Keefe led Johnson going into the 10th frame where she left the 1-2-4-10 wash out and gave Johnson her opening.
“As far as the TV show goes, it was probably one of the hardest ones I have ever bowled on. All she needed to do was mark. She got a little quick and washed out for an open,” Johnson recalled. “I took a deep breath. I picked up the 4 pin. Needing seven to win by one pin, I did it. That was an insane U.S. Open because they were so hard. You have to prepare for anything.”
It was Johnson’s fourth U.S Open win and seventh major title. She went on to lead the tour in average (214.81), wins (3) and earnings ($92,700) on the way to being named Player of the Year.
First-time tour winners that season included Elysia Current, Stefanie Johnson — who was named Rookie of the Year — Amanda Greene and Danielle McEwan. McEwan’s first title happened to also be a major at The Smithfield PWBA Tour Championship. She closed out her match against Stefanie Johnson with six straight strikes for the win. Singapore’s Jazreel Tan got a win as a non-member. After the win she said, “Hopefully, this will open the door for more bowlers from Asia to be able to come here to compete against the best.”
In 2016, Tan’s wish came true as three of her Team Singapore teammates won their first titles.
Bernice Lim raised the trophy at the USBC Queens to become the first player from Singapore to win the major. Cherie Tan picked up her first title and first by a left-hander since 2003. Then at The Smithfield PWBA Tour Championship, Hui Fen New defeated Tan in the championship match, 258-235. Fen was named Rookie of the Year.
Bryanna Coté won her first title. Josie Barnes climbed the stepladder to win her first title, as did Clara Guerrero, winning a major. Rocio Restrepo earned her first and second titles, while O’Keefe won three times.
Liz Johnson added two more major titles to her resume in 2017, along with a standard title. One of the majors was her fourth straight U.S. Women’s Open, which she climbed the ladder to win her 10th career major. Kulick earned her first title in 11 championship-round appearances dating back to 2015. Zavjalova also won her second major at the USBC Queens.
Siti Safiyah became the first Malaysian bowler to win a title as she defeated fellow Team Malaysia teammate Sin Li Jane in the title match. Safiyah said, “This win is really prestigious for our country.” At the very next tournament, Sin got the victory. Pajak collected her first title, and Stefanie Johnson returned from maternity leave, climbing the ladder to win her second title. O’Keefe ended the season with two titles, including her first major at The Smithfield PWBA Tour Championship.
It was Liz Kuhlkin at the 2018 U.S. Women’s Open who made a huge move. As the No. 64 seed, she defeated No. 1 seed Stefanie Johnson in bracket match play. She went on to earn the No. 5 seed for the TV show and she ran the ladder — just as she did to get her first title in 2015.
O’Keefe won two titles in the first four events, including defeating Liz Johnson and Coté at the USBC Queens to win her first Player of the Year award. Another Team Singapore bowler joined the fun as Shayna Ng won her first title. And 22-year-old Jordan (Richard) Snodgrass finished her college bowling career and immediately made the stepladder finals in five events, winning a title in her fourth event and Rookie of the Year honors.
The 2019 season was memorable for O’Keefe. After winning four standard titles, she finished the season with her third major title at the PWBA Tour Championship. O’Keefe set a new record for most wins in a season, since Carolyn-Dorin Ballard won seven titles in 2001. O’Keefe led the tour in earnings ($87,275) and won back-to-back Player of the Year awards.
Kovalova also had a season to remember. She calmly doubled in the 10th frame at the USBC Queens to defeat Sin, winning her first major title. On National Bowling Day, she made PWBA history, becoming the fourth player to roll a televised 300 game at the Pepsi PWBA Louisville Open in the title match against Liz Johnson.
“I cried for her. I am an emotional wreck as I have gotten older, when people succeed,” Johnson said. “I was genuinely happy for Dasha. I remember just throwing shots to get out of her way.”
At the U.S. Women’s Open, McEwan was pushed to perform, and she stepped up. In the semifinal match, she struck out in the 10th to defeat O’Keefe, 229-225. In the title match, Tannya Roumimper needed a double in the 10th to shut out McEwan. She struck on the first shot and after a re-rack, she pounded the pocket, leaving a solid 7 pin, which she converted. McEwan needed 28 pins for the win. She delivered a solid double, and her final shot went through the nose knocking down nine for the win.
More heartbreak in 2019 was witnessed at the Fountain Valley Open. Sandra Andersson left a 7-10 in the ninth frame for an open, then followed it up by striking out in the clutch. She sat down having given Coté her chance at the victory. Coté left a stone 8 pin, stunningly giving Andersson her first career title.
After no season in 2020 due to the pandemic, history was made multiple times in 2021. There were 20 events on the tour schedule, which was the most since 2001. Jillian Martin lived up to the hype. The 17-year-old finished eighth-, second- and third-place finishes at the Kickoff Classic Series. Then she became the youngest player to win a national tour event at the BowlTV Classic. Josie Barnes won the largest top prize in PWBA history with $100,000 at the U.S. Women’s Open. Stephanie Zavala stormed onto the scene, becoming the first rookie to win three titles, since Leanne Hulsenberg in 1987. Zavala was named Rookie of the Year. Julia Bond collected two titles by climbing the ladder and a major at the USBC Queens. And Shannon Pluhowsky won her first title since 2006 at the Tour Championship.
Erin McCarthy earned her first major title at the U.S. Women’s Open in 2022. She climbed the ladder for her title. In match two, O’Keefe needed a double and eight to defeat McCarthy. She got the double, then went through the nose, leaving the dreaded Greek church for a two-pin loss. Zavala followed up her rookie campaign with her first major title in 2022 at the Tour Championship. She put on a show, averaging more than 250 in her three stepladder wins. History was made at the St. Petersburg-Clearwater Open during qualifying as Breanna Clemmer posted a 1,595 six-game block, ending with games of 289, 300, 300 and 279. Those final three games broke the PWBA Tour record for highest three-game set with 879. Clemmer closed out the week with a title over Coté.
Coté got a bit of redemption in the following tournament at the BVL Classic. As the No. 4 seed, she dominated the stepladder with games of 289, 243 and 278 to get to the title match. McEwan left a 7-10 split in the fifth frame then left the same split back-to-back in the eighth and ninth frames as Coté got the win. O’Keefe won Player of the Year with one win, seven stepladders and a lowest season finish of ninth in 12 events as she battled a hip injury.
Jordan (Richard) Snodgrass was a force to reckon with in 2023. She rolled three perfect games during the season, made six championship-round appearances and won three standard titles while leading the tour in average at 219.69. She won two titles within four days, earning her first Player of the Year award. Maria José Rodriguez, who seems to love major tournaments, earned her third major title at the Tour Championship.
Major titles are hard to come by, especially at the U.S. Women’s Open. Coté posted the lowest winning score in tour history defeating Guerrero, 153-142, to win the coveted green jacket. Coté made a bold ball change in the 10th frame, knowing she needed nine pins for the win. Her delivery went through the nose, leaving the 3-6-10. Her ball came in heavy on the 3 pin and the 10 pin was late to fall as she got the spare and ultimately the win. José Rodriguez, Lindsay Boomershine and Snodgrass all made more than $90,000 in 2023, while Coté made the fourth highest amount at $89,214.
That brings us to 2024, a season in which Sin Li Jane won four times, including two majors at the U.S. Women’s Open and the Tour Championship, to be named Player of the Year. Sin simply delivered perfectly every time she needed to. The Tour Championship was filled with storyline and big moments. Missy Parkin, as the first alternate, stepped in for Zavjalova in the second round of match play after Zavjalova withdrew. Parkin posted an 11-5 match play record as she overcame a large deficit to earn the No. 5 seed. She won her first two matches to then face Sin in the semifinal. Parkin needed a mark to win but left a split and couldn’t convert. In the title match, Snodgrass needed a double and good count to shut out Sin. She aced her first shot, then left a 7-10 split. Sin, needing a double and six for the win, flushed all three shots to put an exclamation point on her dream season.
Jillian Martin made more history in 2024, becoming the youngest player to win a major at 19. She did that at the USBC Queens as she defeated Hope Gramly 267-220. Lauren Russo earned her first PWBA title in style at the Southern Indiana Open. After Snodgrass struck out in the 10th frame, Russo needed a strike to win, and she got it. Russo earned the victory, 267-259, in the second-highest combined total score in a title match since the relaunch.
In this 10th anniversary and beyond, there are more big moments to come.
“I think the best part about having a tour is that we get to see greatness unfold every day. If you pay attention to it, it inspires you to be better at whatever it is that you are doing, whether it's bowling, or running a tour, or just going to your everyday job,” Jason Thomas said. “I predict that will continue, and that over the next 5-10 years we will see someone — likely several athletes — make their mark on the sport like Liz Johnson, Shannon O'Keefe, Danielle McEwan and many others have done in the first 10 years.”
Graves echoes that sentiment.
“Where the WNBA is right now is where I would like the PWBA Tour to be in the next few years. The excitement and growth they’ve seen is definitely something I think is deserved of the ladies here in professional bowling,” she said, adding that, “We have created a pipeline like other sports have. College bowling has grown in terms of the talent that is there.”
Top overall averages since relaunch (from 2015-2024)
1. Sin Li Jane 215.20
2. Jordan Richard 214.02
3. Shannon O’Keefe 213.98
4. Danielle McEwan 212.42
5. Stefanie Johnson 212.34
6. Shannon Pluhowsky 212.27
7. Liz Johnson 211.77
8. Cherie Tan 211.10
9. Diana Zavjalova 211.00
10. Kelly Kulick 210.96
Top averages by year since relaunch
2024: 1. Cherie Tan 218.27 2. Shannon Pluhowsky 217.83 3. Jordan Richard 215.59 4. Verity Crawley 215.58 5. Hui Fen New 214.68
2023: 1. Jordan Richard 219.69 2. Bryanna Coté 216.04 3. Shannon Pluhowsky 215.60 4. Diana Zavjalova 215.23 5. Birgit Noreiks 214.03
2022: 1. Shannon O’Keefe 214. 94 2. Danielle McEwan 213.64 3. Jordan Richard 212.04 4. Bryanna Coté 211.22 5. Missy Parkin 211.16
2021: 1. Shannon O’Keefe 214.73 2. Shannon Pluhowsky 214.51 3. Bryanna Coté 213.75 4. Stefanie Johnson 213.29 5. Kelly Kulick 213.18
2019: 1. Cherie Tan 220.06 2. Sin Li Jane 218.10 3. Shannon O’Keefe 215.63 4. Sarah Germano 214.19 5. Danielle McEwan 211.48
2018: 1. Erin McCarthy 217.46 2. Jordan Richard 217.43 3. Danielle McEwan 216.41 4. Shannon O’Keefe 216.27 5. Esther Cheah 216.18
2017: 1. Jenny Wegner 218.89 2. Stefanie Johnson 218.48 3. Nicole Trudell 216.76 4. Liz Johnson 214.37 5. Cherie Tan 214.05
2016: 1. Sin Li Jane 219.99 2. Shannon O’Keefe 214.31 3. Diana Zavjalova 214.11 4. Brenda Padilla 214.05 5. Rocio Restrepo 213.55
2015: 1. Liz Johnson 214.81 2. Danielle McEwan 214.27 3. Kelly Kulick 213.88 4. Stefanie Johnson 211.74 5. Diana Zavjalova 211.43
Top prize money earnings since relaunch
2024: 1. Sin Li Jane $154,570 2. Jordan Richard $61,755 3. Shannon Pluhowsky $58,478 4. Diana Zavjalova $52,610 5. Verity Crawley $49,808
2023: 1. Maria José Rodriguez $98,754 2. Lindsay Boomershine $93,245 3. Jordan Richard $91,365 4. Bryanna Coté $89,214 5. Dasha Kovalova $60,534
2022: 1. Birgit Noreiks $79,300 2. Danielle McEwan $77,950 3. Shannon O’ Keefe $76,200 4. Erin McCarthy $72,225 5. Stephanie Zavala $66,550
2021: 1. Josie Barnes $106,550 2. Shannon Pluhowsky $84,500 3. Bryanna Coté $70,125 4. Stephanie Zavala $69,000 5. Julia Bond $60,000
2019: 1. Shannon O’Keefe $87,275 2. Dasha Kovalova $67,675 3. Danielle McEwan $51,000 4. Cherie Tan $34,600 5. Jordan Richard $31,550
2018: 1. Shannon O’Keefe $61,925 2. Stefanie Johnson $50,675 3. Danielle McEwan $48,975 4. Liz Kuhlkin $41,350 5. Maria José Rodriguez $40,562
2017: 1. Liz Johnson $83,500 2. Kelly Kulick $48,700 3. Shannon O’Keefe $47,100 4. Diana Zavjalova $42,700 5. Danielle McEwan $35,350
2016: 1. Liz Johnson $60,200 2. Rocio Restrepo $46,400 3. Shannon O’Keefe $46,240 4. Clara Guerrero $43,300 5. Shannon Pluhowsky $37,900
2015: 1. Liz Johnson $92,700 2. Danielle McEwan $42,350 3. Stefanie Johnson $40,350 4. Shannon O’Keefe $37,100 5. Kelly Kulick $29,550
Top lifetime earnings (from 1960-June 7, 2025)
1. Wendy Macpherson $1,198,135
2. Aleta Sill $1,071,194
3. Tish Johnson $1,070,362
4. Leanne Hulsenberg $1,056,993
5. Liz Johnson $978,378
Top earnings since the relaunch (from 2015-June 7, 2025)
1. Shannon O’Keefe $437,259
2. Liz Johnson $427,226
3. Danielle McEwan $397,506
4. Bryanna Coté $371,661
5. Shannon Pluhowsky $338,775
Top 5 all-time winners (1960-June 7, 2025)
1. Lisa Wagner 32
2. Aleta Sill 31
3. Leanne Hulsenberg 27
4. Patty Costello 25
Liz Johnson
Tish Johnson
Top 5 winners since the relaunch (2015-June 7, 2025)
1. Shannon O’Keefe 15
2. Liz Johnson 11
3. Danielle McEwan 9
4. Jordan Snodgrass 6
5. Stephanie Zavala 6
Most Championship Round Appearances since the relaunch (2015-June 7, 2025)
1. Shannon O’Keefe 34
2. Danielle McEwan 32
3. Liz Johnson 25
4. Kelly Kulick 25
5. Shannon Pluhowsky 24
Most cashes since the relaunch (2015-June 7,2025)
1. Diana Zavjalova 102
2. Danielle McEwan 100
3. Bryanna Coté 98
4. Liz Johnson 98
5. Maria José Rodriguez 93
Team of the Decade since the relaunch (2015-2024):
1. Liz Johnson 11 titles (five majors), three-time Player of the Year (2015-2017)
2. Shannon O’Keefe 15 titles (3 majors), three-time Player of the Year (2018, ’19 and ’22)
3. Danielle McEwan 8 titles (2 majors)
4. Sin Li Jane 5 titles (2 majors), Player of the Year (2024)
5. Diana Zavjalova 5 titles (2 majors)
Second Team
1. Stefanie Johnson 4 titles (1 major), Rookie of the Year (2015)
2. Jordan Snodgrass 6 titles, Player of the Year (2023) and Rookie of the Year (2018)
3. Cherie Tan 5 titles (1 major)
4. Josie Barnes 5 titles (2 majors)
5. Bryanna Coté 5 titles (1 major), Player of the Year (2021)
Honorable Mention
1. Dasha Kovalova 5 titles (1 major)
2. Stephanie Zavala 6 titles (1 major), Rookie of the Year (2021)
3. Shannon Pluhowsky 4 titles (2 majors)
4. Maria José Rodriguez 3 titles (3 majors)
5. Verity Crawley 2 titles
Top 10 difference makers since the relaunch
You might wonder what it means to be a difference maker. These are bowlers who have proven themselves with their constant cashes, match-play appearances and titles. For those like Jillian Martin, Sin Li Jane and Cherie Tan, they don’t typically bowl at every event, but when they are in a tournament, they make their way near the top of the standings. For a bowler like Verity Crawley with two career standard titles, she has put herself in position to get more wins and she is due for a breakout season. Her constant engagement on social media is drawing more fans and attention to the PWBA, which makes her an all-around different maker.
1. Liz Johnson
2. Shannon O’Keefe
3. Jillian Martin
4. Sin Li Jane
5. Jordan Snodgrass
6. Kelly Kulick
7. Danielle McEwan
8. Cherie Tan
9. Diana Zavjalova
10. Verity Crawley
Rookie of the Year
2024: Crystal Elliott
2023: Hope Gramly
2022: Olivia Farwell
2021: Stephanie Zavala
2019: Valerie Bercier
2018: Jordan Snodgrass
2017: Daria Pajak
2016: Hui Fen New
2015: Stefanie Johnson
Top 10 PWBA Moments since the relaunch
- At the first tournament since the relaunch, Elysia Current won $12,000 at the 2015 PWBA Storm Sacramento Open.
- At the first major tournament after the relaunch of the PWBA Tour, appropriately the most successful bowler started the relaunch with another title. Liz Johnson won at the 2015 USBC Queens.
- Liz Johnson’s dominance continues with a win at the 2015 Bowlmor AMF U.S. Women’s Open for her seventh major title. Shannon O’Keefe had the lead going into the 10th before leaving the 1-2-4-10 wash out and an open frame. Liz picked up the 4 pin and, needing 7 pins for the win, she left the 2-4-10, which was just enough for the 190-189 victory. This was Johnson’s fourth U.S. Women’s Open title.
- After a disappointing loss at the 2015 U.S. Women’s Open, the background of Shannon O’Keefe’s cell phone showed her hanging her head after opening in the 10th frame opening the door for Liz Johnson. She continued to look at that photo to remind and motivate her. She defeated Kelly Kulick and Hui Fen New at the 2016 Nationwide PWBA Sonoma County Open to earn her first individual title. In the title match, she stepped up with a double and nine in the 10th for the 235-226 win. O’Keefe got emotional after the win talking about bouncing back from the heartbreak and not wanting to disappoint her McKendree University bowlers.
- Another classic O’Keefe vs. Johnson battle. At the 2017 Smithfield PWBA Tour Championship in the semifinal match, No. 5 seed Shannon O’Keefe and No. 1 Liz Johnson tie at 222, both strike on the first two roll-offs, then O’Keefe wins 10-9 to advance to the Smithfield PWBA Tour Championship. O’Keefe goes on to beat No. 2 Kelly Kulick 222-203.
- Dasha Kovalova shines in 2019. She doubles in the 10th frame in the championship match at the 2019 USBC Queens to defeat Sin Li Jane for her first title as a major. On National Bowling Day, Kovalova became the four PWBA Tour player in history to roll a televised 300 game at the 2019 Pepsi PWBA Louisville Open. Dasha did it in the title match against Liz Johnson in only her second TV appearance.
- Josie Barnes wins the largest prize fund in PWBA history winning $100,000 at the 2021 U.S. Women’s Open. After a back-and-forth title match against Cherie Tan, Barnes battled nerves in the 10th and got the win after Tan failed to double in the 10th in the 198-194 match.
- After storming onto the PWBA circuit with eighth, second and third place finishes at the 2021 Kickoff Classic Series, 17-year-old Jillian Martin became the youngest player to win a national tour event at the 2021 BowlTV Classic. Jillian made more history, becoming the youngest player to win a major at 19 when she won the 2024 USBC Queens.
- At the 2022 U.S. Women’s Open Erin McCarthy climbs the ladder to win her first major. In Match 2, Shannon O’Keefe needed a double and eight to win. She got the double then her delivery went through the nose leaving the Greek church for a two-pin loss.
- At the 2022 BVL Classic No. 4 seed Bryanna Coté climbs the ladder with games of 289, 243 and 278 for 810 to get to the title match. She faced Danielle McEwan who left three 7-10s including two back-to-back. Coté got the win 212-152.
- There was plenty to enjoy at 2024 PWBA Tour Championship. Missy Parkin stepped into the second round of match play as an alternate after Diana Zavjalova withdrew. Parkin was down more than 200 pins but posted an 11-5 match play record to earn the No. 5 seed on the stepladder. She won her first two matches to get to the semifinals. Sin Li Jane posted 217 and Parkin needed a mark for the win but left a split for the loss. In the championship match, Jordan Richard needed a double and good count to shut out Sin. She got a strike, then left a 7-10. Sin, needing a double and six for the win, flushes all three shots ending her dream Player of the Year season with four titles (two majors) and $154,570.
As the PWBA celebrates its 10th anniversary since the relaunch, current competitors will continue to be pushed by younger talent that is quickly coming up. The next generation of PWBA stars have already been proving that they are tournament ready thanks to their finishes at Junior Gold and Elite Youth Tour events available to them. These are 10 collegiate bowlers and 10 players under the age of 18 to keep a close eye on. The PWBA Tour is in good hands and the talent will keep flourishing for years and decades to come.
10 College players for the next decade
Katelyn Abigania, Gianna Brandolino, Dannielle Henderson, Samantha Kanehailua, Erin Klemencic, Eliana Occhino, Kaitlyn Stull, Abigail Starkey, Elizabeth Teuber and Victorya White
10 players under 18 to watch over the next decade
Anna Antony, Alyssa Bechtol, Malia Briggs, Bella Castillo, Trishna Desai, Lindsay Greim, Taylor Kretz, Alexandra McCowan, Alyssa Randisi and Larielle Tharps