SINGAPORE – Entering the US Women’s Open stepladder finals as the lowest-ranked seed, Singapore bowler New Hui Fen knew the odds were stacked against her.

But focusing on her “intention behind each shot”, the fifth seed toppled all four bowlers ranked above her en route to clinching one of the Professional Women’s Bowling Association (PWBA) tour’s major titles for the first time and the winner’s Green Jacket.

New, who ended with 11 consecutive strikes in the title-decider, proved too strong for American top seed Jordan Snodgrass, prevailing 290-188 to bag the US$60,000 (S$77,100) top prize on June 18.

Calling her third PWBA title of the season her best career achievement yet, the 33-year-old said: “I’m very happy that I’ve been able to perform consistently this year.

“It feels really great, especially since all the (oiling) patterns were so hard. It feels like a good affirmation that my hard work is paying off.”

New’s success at Sun Valley Lanes in Lincoln, Nebraska, which comes after her BowlTV Open and Rock ’n’ Roll Open victories on May 31 and June 2 respectively, positions her as the front runner for the PWBA Player of the Year Award.

However, she is not getting carried away. “It’s not over yet. There’s still a few more competitions to go,” said New, citing the Aug 5-12 PWBA Tour Championship Week, which comprises three events, culminating in the season-ending PWBA Tour Championship.

“I know I will give it my best shot to perform consistently to be able to have a shot at winning it (Player of the Year),” she added.

At one stage, though, victory in Nebraska had looked like a long shot. She finished joint-19th with a 6,388 pinfall total after 32 qualifying games to advance to the match-play stage, along with teammate Shayna Ng (6,374), who just made the top-24 cut.

After the first of two match-play rounds, New rose to second. But she slipped to fifth in the third round, just enough for her to squeeze into the stepladder finals as the only non-American.

Ng finished ninth.

While New’s chances of winning were slim, as she needed to overcome the four opponents ahead of her in a 10-frame, single-game stepladder format, she maintained a positive outlook.

When asked if she felt she had stood a chance as the fifth seed, New said: “I think everyone had a chance of winning. I was (just) focusing on the intention behind each shot, making sure...