LI JANE JUST ONE STEP AWAY FROM US OPEN TRIUMPH

KUALA LUMPUR, June 18 (Bernama) -- National kegler Sin Li Jane is just a win away from creating history by becoming the first Malaysian to win the US Women’s Open title at the Royal Pin Woodland, Indianapolis.

The 32-year-old continued to impress in the United States after emerging as the number one seed among the five stepladder finalists on Sunday (Monday in Malaysia). 

According to the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) official website, Li Jane looks headed for her first major title and third Professional Women’s Bowling Association (PWBA) Tour crown of the 2024 season after topping the 25-player leaderboard with 12,474 pinfalls after 56 games on four different oil patterns over five days. 

Latvian Diana Zavjalova is second with 12,222 pinfalls, followed by American Stefanie Johnson (12,209), England's Verity Crawley (12,207) and American Breanna Clemmer (12,118). 

Based on the tournament format, the fourth and fifth-placed players will play each other, with the winner advancing to the next stage to challenge the next highest-ranked player until the title showdown against the top seed.

According to the USBC, the champion will walk away with the coveted green jacket, the iconic eagle trophy and US$60,000 (about RM282,900) prize money. The runner-up will take home US$30,000 (about RM141,500).

Li Jane claimed her third PWBA Tour title for 2024 by winning the Greater Nashville Classic on May 31 to go with the Bowlers Journal Rockford Open title on May 11. Her maiden success was back in 2017 when she captured the Lincoln Open crown.

Li Jane, the 2017 World Bowling Women's Championships team event gold medallist, had also finished runner-up in the 2016 PWBA Greater Detroit Open, 2017 PWBA Wichita Open and 2019 USBC Queens.

-- BERNAMA