New Hui Fen climbs the ladder to win the 2025 U.S. Women's Open title
June 18, 2025
Final Standings
LINCOLN, Neb. – Singapore’s New Hui Fen won four straight stepladder matches to win the 2025 U.S. Women’s Open for her second career major and fifth overall Professional Women’s Bowling Association Tour title, clinching the victory with a 290 in the title match against Jordan Snodgrass of Adrian, Michigan, at Sun Valley Lanes in Lincoln, Nebraska.
New had a four-game stepladder total of 1,026 on the live CBS Sports Network telecast, setting the record for most pins knocked down in a stepladder final since the relaunch of the PWBA Tour in 2015 on her way to the green jacket, eagle trophy and $60,000 top prize. The Singaporean right-hander looked comfortable from the start of her run on the demanding 41-foot oil condition.
“To me, it felt similar to Round 2 (of qualifying) and I’m comfortable making the shape needed on that pattern and this one,” said New, who is now eligible for the PWBA Hall of Fame once her career is over with her five titles and two majors.
“I never thought that at age 33 I would be eligible for the hall of fame,” New said. “When I think of the hall of fame, I think of Leanne Hulsenberg and Liz Johnson.”
New’s record-breaking run began with an opening-match bout against Maryssa Carey of Hobart, Indiana, who was making her debut stepladder appearance.
An opening start of five strikes in a row for New put her in front early with Carey trying to keep up. Two opens later in the match for Carey ended her run with a 189 game while New never let up and advanced with 246. Carey earned $13,000 for her fifth-place finish.
Next for New was 2024 PWBA Rookie of the Year, Crystal Elliott of Palm Bay, Florida, making her first major stepladder finals and second stepladder of the 2025 season. The left lane began to breakdown during the match, and it was evident with Elliott unable to make contact with the pocket and New making a ball change to something that was cleaner early on.
The change proved to be the right move for New, who missed pocket just once and finished with 228 to Elliott’s 183. Elliott earned $17,000 for her fourth-place finish while New continued to the semifinal match.
New’s opponent was Lauren Russo of O’Fallon, Missouri, seeking her second career title after winning the 2024 PWBA Southern Indiana Open in a high-scoring affair against Snodgrass.
Things would not play out similarly for Russo, opening three times in the first six frames as New opened with yet another string of strikes. Back-to-back spares for New weren’t enough for Russo to make a comeback, bowing out with a 174 to New’s 262. Russo took home $22,000 for third place.
The title match between New and Snodgrass would push the winner to the forefront of the PWBA Player of the Year award. Snodgrass led the points race after three straight championship-round appearances and a win at the PWBA Bowlers Journal Waterloo Open, despite New’s two wins during the PWBA Summer Series in Cleveland.
After a high-flush 4 pin for New, she never missed again, ending 11 strikes in a row for 290, too much for Snodgrass to overcome as she settled for a runner-up finish, earning $30,000. It was New’s third win of the year and the 1,026 four-game total beat out Bryanna Coté’s 1,022 from the 2022 BVL Classic, while also putting her in the lead for PWBA Player of the Year.
New knows there is still a lot of bowling left for the season, however.
“It’s not over, we still have a few competitions to go,” said New, who will not be bowling the PWBA Anniversary Open in Green Bay and will be bowling for her home country in a few international competitions before PWBA Tour Championship Week in August.
The 2025 U.S. Women’s Open was live streamed on BowlTV for all rounds of competition prior to the live stepladder finals.
The PWBA Tour continues July 8 with the PWBA Anniversary Open in Green Bay, where the stepladder finals will be aired on CBS Sports Network on July 13.
LINCOLN, Neb. – Singapore’s New Hui Fen won four straight stepladder matches to win the 2025 U.S. Women’s Open for her second career major and fifth overall Professional Women’s Bowling Association Tour title, clinching the victory with a 290 in the title match against Jordan Snodgrass of Adrian, Michigan, at Sun Valley Lanes in Lincoln, Nebraska.
New had a four-game stepladder total of 1,026 on the live CBS Sports Network telecast, setting the record for most pins knocked down in a stepladder final since the relaunch of the PWBA Tour in 2015 on her way to the green jacket, eagle trophy and $60,000 top prize. The Singaporean right-hander looked comfortable from the start of her run on the demanding 41-foot oil condition.
“To me, it felt similar to Round 2 (of qualifying) and I’m comfortable making the shape needed on that pattern and this one,” said New, who is now eligible for the PWBA Hall of Fame once her career is over with her five titles and two majors.
“I never thought that at age 33 I would be eligible for the hall of fame,” New said. “When I think of the hall of fame, I think of Leanne Hulsenberg and Liz Johnson.”
New’s record-breaking run began with an opening-match bout against Maryssa Carey of Hobart, Indiana, who was making her debut stepladder appearance.
An opening start of five strikes in a row for New put her in front early with Carey trying to keep up. Two opens later in the match for Carey ended her run with a 189 game while New never let up and advanced with 246. Carey earned $13,000 for her fifth-place finish.
Next for New was 2024 PWBA Rookie of the Year, Crystal Elliott of Palm Bay, Florida, making her first major stepladder finals and second stepladder of the 2025 season. The left lane began to breakdown during the match, and it was evident with Elliott unable to make contact with the pocket and New making a ball change to something that was cleaner early on.
The change proved to be the right move for New, who missed pocket just once and finished with 228 to Elliott’s 183. Elliott earned $17,000 for her fourth-place finish while New continued to the semifinal match.
New’s opponent was Lauren Russo of O’Fallon, Missouri, seeking her second career title after winning the 2024 PWBA Southern Indiana Open in a high-scoring affair against Snodgrass.
Things would not play out similarly for Russo, opening three times in the first six frames as New opened with yet another string of strikes. Back-to-back spares for New weren’t enough for Russo to make a comeback, bowing out with a 174 to New’s 262. Russo took home $22,000 for third place.
The title match between New and Snodgrass would push the winner to the forefront of the PWBA Player of the Year award. Snodgrass led the points race after three straight championship-round appearances and a win at the PWBA Bowlers Journal Waterloo Open, despite New’s two wins during the PWBA Summer Series in Cleveland.
After a high-flush 4 pin for New, she never missed again, ending 11 strikes in a row for 290, too much for Snodgrass to overcome as she settled for a runner-up finish, earning $30,000. It was New’s third win of the year and the 1,026 four-game total beat out Bryanna Coté’s 1,022 from the 2022 BVL Classic, while also putting her in the lead for PWBA Player of the Year.
New knows there is still a lot of bowling left for the season, however.
“It’s not over, we still have a few competitions to go,” said New, who will not be bowling the PWBA Anniversary Open in Green Bay and will be bowling for her home country in a few international competitions before PWBA Tour Championship Week in August.
The 2025 U.S. Women’s Open was live streamed on BowlTV for all rounds of competition prior to the live stepladder finals.
The PWBA Tour continues July 8 with the PWBA Anniversary Open in Green Bay, where the stepladder finals will be aired on CBS Sports Network on July 13.