New Hui Fen adds PWBA Player of the Year to her resume after strong 2025 season
September 19, 2025
ARLINGTON, Texas – Singapore’s New Hui Fen earned Professional Women’s Bowling Association Player of the Year honors for the 2025 season, becoming the first Singaporean to win the award.
The 33-year-old right-hander had three wins during the season, including back-to-back victories at the PWBA BowlTV Open and PWBA Rock ‘n’ Roll Open during the Summer Series - Cleveland in late May and early June to put her name in Player of the Year consideration.
It was the U.S. Women’s Open, however, that cemented her status as one of the best bowlers on tour after climbing the ladder to claim the title with games of 246, 228, 262 and 290 for a four-game total of 1,026. It marked the highest four-game total in a stepladder finals since the PWBA relaunch in 2015, with no other competitor in the U.S. Women’s Open finals shooting higher than 189 on the demanding oil condition, making New eligible for the PWBA Hall of Fame with her second career major and fifth title overall.
“This award truly means the world to me,” said New. “It has always been my dream, and I feel incredibly grateful to be able to live that dream and achieve it. Beyond being a personal milestone, I hope this recognition can serve as an inspiration for others in Singapore and across Asia. With Sin Li Jane (of Malaysia) winning the award last year, it is a wonderful reminder that Asia has many strong bowlers making their mark on the global stage. I am deeply proud to be part of that journey.”
Along with her three wins, New cashed in eight events, made six match-play appearances, four championship-round appearances and finished in the top 12 five times. She also earned the most money during the season with $97,430 and had the second-highest average on tour at 218.36, knocking down 55,464 pins over 254 games.
New is now the fifth player in PWBA history to win both Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year, joining an elite list that includes PWBA Hall of Famers in Anne Marie Duggan, Liz Johnson and Wendy Macpherson, as well as current star Jordan Snodgrass.
New has come a long way since beginning her bowling journey, which started as a family activity before progressing to the professional level.
“From there, my passion for the sport grew,” New said. “I would look for every opportunity to bowl each day, and my time at the Singapore Sports School further instilled in me the values of discipline and perseverance. Singapore Bowling’s Technical Director and Coach, Jason Yeong-Nathan, has been a constant pillar of support throughout this journey, always encouraging me to embrace versatility, try new approaches and learn from my mistakes.”
Throughout her career, New has battled injuries that affect her even today, but a closely monitored plan helps her stay at peak performance for as long as possible during the tour season and when in Singapore.
“I have explored different medical procedures, but not surgery,” New said. “What has truly helped me is working closely with my strength and conditioning coach and my physiotherapist. I constantly seek their guidance on what areas need to be stronger or more mobile, and together we put in place both strengthening and recovery plans. I usually follow any plan for about four to six weeks to assess progress, whether that means being pain-free or experiencing reduced pain, and then review with the experts to decide whether to continue or adjust the approach.”
It was the second straight year that a player from outside the United States has won Player of the Year (Malaysia’s Sin Li Jane) and third time overall (Sin in 2024, Australia’s Carol Gianotti in 1998). With Malaysia’s Gillian Lim winning Rookie of the Year, 2025 marked the second season (1998) that players from outside the United States won Player and Rookie of the Year in the same season.
“I definitely see a shift in the makeup of the tour,” New said. “We’re seeing more international players making their mark, and at the same time, the overall age of the tour feels like it’s getting younger. I think that speaks to how the game is growing globally and how many opportunities there are now for players from all over the world. It’s really inspiring to be part of that movement, and I feel grateful to share this moment with Gillian. It shows that the sport truly has no boundaries.”
New wasn’t the only member of Team Singapore to find success in 2025 as Shayna Ng started the season with a win at the PWBA Go Bowling Topeka Open, and Cherie Tan made three championship-round appearances. All three advanced to the Tour Championship, which included 10 players outside the U.S., up from seven in 2024.
With the 2025 season behind her, New shifts her focus to preparing for next season and upcoming events with Team Singapore to stay sharp for 2026, seeking to add more to her PWBA resume.
“This year brought some challenges with a few stops where I didn’t cash or make the top 12,” New said. “My focus now is on building greater consistency in my performances throughout the season. Winning Player of the Year again would be a wonderful achievement, and I will continue to work hard toward that goal.”
The 2026 PWBA Tour season starts in April at The Cherry Bowl in Rockford, Illinois. For the full schedule, click HERE.
For a full list of award winners, click HERE.
The 33-year-old right-hander had three wins during the season, including back-to-back victories at the PWBA BowlTV Open and PWBA Rock ‘n’ Roll Open during the Summer Series - Cleveland in late May and early June to put her name in Player of the Year consideration.
It was the U.S. Women’s Open, however, that cemented her status as one of the best bowlers on tour after climbing the ladder to claim the title with games of 246, 228, 262 and 290 for a four-game total of 1,026. It marked the highest four-game total in a stepladder finals since the PWBA relaunch in 2015, with no other competitor in the U.S. Women’s Open finals shooting higher than 189 on the demanding oil condition, making New eligible for the PWBA Hall of Fame with her second career major and fifth title overall.
“This award truly means the world to me,” said New. “It has always been my dream, and I feel incredibly grateful to be able to live that dream and achieve it. Beyond being a personal milestone, I hope this recognition can serve as an inspiration for others in Singapore and across Asia. With Sin Li Jane (of Malaysia) winning the award last year, it is a wonderful reminder that Asia has many strong bowlers making their mark on the global stage. I am deeply proud to be part of that journey.”
Along with her three wins, New cashed in eight events, made six match-play appearances, four championship-round appearances and finished in the top 12 five times. She also earned the most money during the season with $97,430 and had the second-highest average on tour at 218.36, knocking down 55,464 pins over 254 games.
New is now the fifth player in PWBA history to win both Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year, joining an elite list that includes PWBA Hall of Famers in Anne Marie Duggan, Liz Johnson and Wendy Macpherson, as well as current star Jordan Snodgrass.
New has come a long way since beginning her bowling journey, which started as a family activity before progressing to the professional level.
“From there, my passion for the sport grew,” New said. “I would look for every opportunity to bowl each day, and my time at the Singapore Sports School further instilled in me the values of discipline and perseverance. Singapore Bowling’s Technical Director and Coach, Jason Yeong-Nathan, has been a constant pillar of support throughout this journey, always encouraging me to embrace versatility, try new approaches and learn from my mistakes.”
Throughout her career, New has battled injuries that affect her even today, but a closely monitored plan helps her stay at peak performance for as long as possible during the tour season and when in Singapore.
“I have explored different medical procedures, but not surgery,” New said. “What has truly helped me is working closely with my strength and conditioning coach and my physiotherapist. I constantly seek their guidance on what areas need to be stronger or more mobile, and together we put in place both strengthening and recovery plans. I usually follow any plan for about four to six weeks to assess progress, whether that means being pain-free or experiencing reduced pain, and then review with the experts to decide whether to continue or adjust the approach.”
It was the second straight year that a player from outside the United States has won Player of the Year (Malaysia’s Sin Li Jane) and third time overall (Sin in 2024, Australia’s Carol Gianotti in 1998). With Malaysia’s Gillian Lim winning Rookie of the Year, 2025 marked the second season (1998) that players from outside the United States won Player and Rookie of the Year in the same season.
“I definitely see a shift in the makeup of the tour,” New said. “We’re seeing more international players making their mark, and at the same time, the overall age of the tour feels like it’s getting younger. I think that speaks to how the game is growing globally and how many opportunities there are now for players from all over the world. It’s really inspiring to be part of that movement, and I feel grateful to share this moment with Gillian. It shows that the sport truly has no boundaries.”
New wasn’t the only member of Team Singapore to find success in 2025 as Shayna Ng started the season with a win at the PWBA Go Bowling Topeka Open, and Cherie Tan made three championship-round appearances. All three advanced to the Tour Championship, which included 10 players outside the U.S., up from seven in 2024.
With the 2025 season behind her, New shifts her focus to preparing for next season and upcoming events with Team Singapore to stay sharp for 2026, seeking to add more to her PWBA resume.
“This year brought some challenges with a few stops where I didn’t cash or make the top 12,” New said. “My focus now is on building greater consistency in my performances throughout the season. Winning Player of the Year again would be a wonderful achievement, and I will continue to work hard toward that goal.”
The 2026 PWBA Tour season starts in April at The Cherry Bowl in Rockford, Illinois. For the full schedule, click HERE.
For a full list of award winners, click HERE.