Sin Li Jane wins 2024 U.S. Women's Open for first career major title
June 19, 2024
Final Standings
INDIANAPOLIS – Sin Li Jane was not going to miss her opportunity to win her first major tonight.
Absent from the Professional Women’s Bowling Association Tour for three seasons before the start of the 2024 season, Sin out of Malaysia took down Latvia’s Diana Zavjalova, 226-214, winning her first major title and third PWBA Tour title of the season.
For Sin, winning the U.S. Women’s Open helped wash away the memory of just missing the telecast at the United States Bowling Congress Queens in Green Bay, Wisconsin, after she lost the second-to-last match in the Winners Bracket for the No. 1 seed and was the low score out in the Contenders Bracket to finish in sixth.
“I feel very happy, I wanted to make sure that I would get the win tonight,” said Sin, who used a clean 226 game to win a close match and earn the coveted green jacket, iconic eagle trophy and the $60,000 top prize.
Sin only missed the pocket one time in the title match, the first frame where she left the 2 pin and converted it. After another single pin conversion, Sin threw three strikes in a row heading into the sixth frame.
Zavjalova avoided getting behind early after making the 2-7-8 split and kept pace with Sin until she missed right in the sixth frame and left the 2-4-10 split, which she was unable to convert.
That did not deter Zavjalova as she threw her the next four in a row to apply pressure before going light and leaving her own 2 pin, spare, to finish at 214. If Zavjalova had struck out, she would have had 225 and forced Sin to get all three in the 10th frame.
Now all Sin needed was nine pins to win, which is exactly what she did before sparing the 3 pin and striking to claim the victory with a 226. Zavjalova earned $30,000 for her runner-up finish.
“I’ve dreamt about this moment for a long time, and after watching other bowlers win it while being away, today, I won it,” said Sin.
Before the title match, Breanna Clemmer of Clover, South Carolina, and Zavjalova in the semifinals came down to the final ball.
Clemmer was in the midst of climbing the ladder after taking down England’s Verity Crawley in the first match of the stepladder, 258-188, striking 10 of 12 shots, and knocking out Stefanie Johnson of McKinney, Texas, 228-195, the following match. Crawley earned $13,000 for her fifth-place finish and Johnson took home $17,000 for fourth.
Compared to the first two matches, strikes were not coming easy to either Clemmer or Zavjalova, who struck a combined nine of 24 shots thrown. Both competitors also exchanged splits, but Clemmer struck in the seventh, eighth and ninth frames to put herself in position to advance.
Zavjalova ended the match first, going strike, 6-10 and took only the 6 pin off to finish at 191. Clemmer needed at least a mark in the first ball of the 10th, with a strike ending the match.
The first ball for Clemmer went high flush, leaving a 4 pin, which she took down with ease, and now needed at least nine pins to move on, or eight to tie.
Disaster struck though.
Clemmer’s fill ball went right of her target and left the 2-8-10 split, putting her at 189 and one game short for the chance at her first major title, advancing Zavjalova to face Sin instead. Clemmer earned $22,000 for her third-place finish.
Sin is now the frontrunner for the PWBA Player of the Year award, leading the tour in wins and points. She can be the first international POTY if she continues bowling well at Tour Championship week at historic Thunderbowl Lanes in Detroit, Michigan, August 6-13.
“I have never thought of winning Player of the Year, I’m just going to take it one stop at a time and let what happens, happen,” said Sin.
The PWBA Tour takes a break before the next event on the schedule, the Professional Bowling Association/PWBA Striking Against Breast Cancer Mixed Doubles in Houston, Texas, July 25-28. That event will be streamed live only on BowlTV.
INDIANAPOLIS – Sin Li Jane was not going to miss her opportunity to win her first major tonight.
Absent from the Professional Women’s Bowling Association Tour for three seasons before the start of the 2024 season, Sin out of Malaysia took down Latvia’s Diana Zavjalova, 226-214, winning her first major title and third PWBA Tour title of the season.
For Sin, winning the U.S. Women’s Open helped wash away the memory of just missing the telecast at the United States Bowling Congress Queens in Green Bay, Wisconsin, after she lost the second-to-last match in the Winners Bracket for the No. 1 seed and was the low score out in the Contenders Bracket to finish in sixth.
“I feel very happy, I wanted to make sure that I would get the win tonight,” said Sin, who used a clean 226 game to win a close match and earn the coveted green jacket, iconic eagle trophy and the $60,000 top prize.
Sin only missed the pocket one time in the title match, the first frame where she left the 2 pin and converted it. After another single pin conversion, Sin threw three strikes in a row heading into the sixth frame.
Zavjalova avoided getting behind early after making the 2-7-8 split and kept pace with Sin until she missed right in the sixth frame and left the 2-4-10 split, which she was unable to convert.
That did not deter Zavjalova as she threw her the next four in a row to apply pressure before going light and leaving her own 2 pin, spare, to finish at 214. If Zavjalova had struck out, she would have had 225 and forced Sin to get all three in the 10th frame.
Now all Sin needed was nine pins to win, which is exactly what she did before sparing the 3 pin and striking to claim the victory with a 226. Zavjalova earned $30,000 for her runner-up finish.
“I’ve dreamt about this moment for a long time, and after watching other bowlers win it while being away, today, I won it,” said Sin.
Before the title match, Breanna Clemmer of Clover, South Carolina, and Zavjalova in the semifinals came down to the final ball.
Clemmer was in the midst of climbing the ladder after taking down England’s Verity Crawley in the first match of the stepladder, 258-188, striking 10 of 12 shots, and knocking out Stefanie Johnson of McKinney, Texas, 228-195, the following match. Crawley earned $13,000 for her fifth-place finish and Johnson took home $17,000 for fourth.
Compared to the first two matches, strikes were not coming easy to either Clemmer or Zavjalova, who struck a combined nine of 24 shots thrown. Both competitors also exchanged splits, but Clemmer struck in the seventh, eighth and ninth frames to put herself in position to advance.
Zavjalova ended the match first, going strike, 6-10 and took only the 6 pin off to finish at 191. Clemmer needed at least a mark in the first ball of the 10th, with a strike ending the match.
The first ball for Clemmer went high flush, leaving a 4 pin, which she took down with ease, and now needed at least nine pins to move on, or eight to tie.
Disaster struck though.
Clemmer’s fill ball went right of her target and left the 2-8-10 split, putting her at 189 and one game short for the chance at her first major title, advancing Zavjalova to face Sin instead. Clemmer earned $22,000 for her third-place finish.
Sin is now the frontrunner for the PWBA Player of the Year award, leading the tour in wins and points. She can be the first international POTY if she continues bowling well at Tour Championship week at historic Thunderbowl Lanes in Detroit, Michigan, August 6-13.
“I have never thought of winning Player of the Year, I’m just going to take it one stop at a time and let what happens, happen,” said Sin.
The PWBA Tour takes a break before the next event on the schedule, the Professional Bowling Association/PWBA Striking Against Breast Cancer Mixed Doubles in Houston, Texas, July 25-28. That event will be streamed live only on BowlTV.