12-08-2025
Creditable PWBA Tour debut for Gillian
KUALA LUMPUR: Bowler Gillian Lim wrapped up her PWBA Tour debut season on a high, leading Malaysia's challenge at the Tour Championship despite narrowly missing out on the stepladder finals.
The 26-year-old Sarawakian placed eighth in the 24-player standings with a three-block total of 5,725 pinfalls at ABC Gates Bowl in New York.
This marked her fourth top-10 finish of the season after the Rock 'n' Roll Open (fifth), Waterloo Open (ninth) and US Women's Open (seventh). She pocketed US$6,250 (RM26,460) for her efforts.
Natasha Roslan finished 11th on 5,664 to earn US$4,200, while defending champion Sin Li Jane — last year's winner — could only manage 23rd with 5,258, taking home US$2,550.
The top five who advanced to Tuesday's stepladder finals were Shannon Pluhowsky (6,053), England's Verity Crawley (5,965), Lauren Russo (5,923), Jordan Snodgrass (5,908) and Stephanie Zavala (5,880).
The champion will walk away with the US$50,000 top prize.
Gillian's strong finish capped a breakthrough year in which she became the first Malaysian to be named PWBA Rookie of the Year and the first international winner since Canada's Valerie Bercier in 2019.
Her season also included two other top 15 outings, 15th at the Topeka Open and 13th at the Rochester Open.
