KUALA LUMPUR: Gillian Lim’s remarkable debut season on the Professional Women’s Bowling Association (PWBA) Tour has been capped with the Rookie of the Year title, making her the first Malaysian to receive the honour.
The 26-year-old Sarawakian clinched the award after the PWBA Pepsi Open, the penultimate leg of the season, on Saturday.
She amassed 37,320 points to finish 22nd in the overall standings, the highest among all rookies, comfortably ahead of 42nd-placed American Jade Cote (23,615).
Gillian is also the first international winner since Canada’s Valerie Bercier in 2019.
“Honestly, I only realised after the US Open that my points were actually quite far ahead, so it was a big surprise,” said Gillian, who had initially planned to wrap up her season after the US Women’s Open in June.
That outing proved a turning point.
She came agonisingly close to the top-five stepladder finals, missing out by two spots to finish seventh.
It still marked her best result at a PWBA major.
It added to an impressive rookie campaign that also featured a joint fifth at the Rock ‘n Roll Open, ninth at the Bowlers Journal Waterloo Open, 15th at the Topeka Open, and 13th at the Rochester Open.
Her decision to return to the United States for the final stretch — the Rochester Open, Pepsi Open and now the season-ending Tour Championship — was made at the last minute.
“I didn’t expect to come back, but my coaches encouraged me. They said there was a chance for me and Natasha (Roslan) to make the Tour Championship, so I went for it,” she said.
It was certainly a meaningful one, with Gillian sealing the Rookie of the Year award at the Pepsi Open.
She will now line up alongside Natasha and compatriot Sin Li Jane in the Tour Championship — an exclusive event for the top-24 points finishers of the season.
“It motivates me a lot, especially since it’s my first season,” she said.
“Getting this recognition gives me more confidence and drive to keep improving. Playing in the Tour Championship as a rookie is such an honour, and it inspires me to aim even higher next season.”
The Malaysian trio began their campaign modestly in the first block of eight games on Sunday, with Natasha in 10th place, Gillian in 15th, and Li Jane in 23rd.
After 24 games on Monday, only the top five will advance to Tuesday’s stepladder finals to contest the US$50,000 (RM211,650) top prize.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
