KUALA LUMPUR: Esther Cheah became the latest Malaysian to win on the United States Professional Women's Bowling Association (PWBA) Tour, triumphing in the PWBA Oklahoma Regional on Sunday.
Esther, 38, defeated American top seed Raina Davis 238-216 in the title match to pick up a US$1,600 (RM7,480) top prize at Sooner Bowling Center in Norman, Oklahoma.
In the semi-final, Esther was also in her element as she rolled a high 249 to stave off a strong challenge from Shelby Davis, who shot a 234.
Esther had qualified for the top-four stepladder playoffs in second by chalking up a 1,637 total in the earlier eight-game roll-off.
Raina set the pace with 1,687, followed by Shelby (1,600) and Brittney Kinney (1,593) who made the cut in third and fourth respectively.
Shelby earned the right to face second-seeded Esther after knocking out Kinney 188-143 in the quarter-final.
Although the victory was attained through the second-tier Regional Tour, Esther was overjoyed to have finally come good as she joined the list of Malaysians' PWBA Tour winners, also featuring Li Jane and Siti Safiyah Amirah Abdul Rahman.
Esther had been actively competing in the flagship National Tour alongside Li Jane since May, but was overshadowed by the latter.
While Li Jane lifted three titles, winning the PWBA Bowlers Journal Rockford Open, PWBA Greater Nashville Classic and US Women's Open, a major crown, in Indianapolis, Esther's 24th place outing at the US Open was the best result she could muster.
"It's nice to be able to have a trophy to go along with her (Li Jane) trophies," Cheah wistfully remarked in an interview with the PWBA Tour media.
With her confidence restored, Esther will be hoping to finish the season strongly where she will compete in two more events, namely the PBA/PWBA Striking Against Breast Cancer Mixed Doubles in Texas (July 31-Aug 3) and season-finale PWBA Tour Championship in Michigan (Aug 6-13) on National Tour.
"I'm still processing the win. I haven't really been bowling that well all season, but I feel I've been improving each tournament.
"Winning this proves to myself that I am getting better and hopefully I continue bowling well in Detroit."
In the upcoming mixed doubles tournament jointly sanctioned by the men's Professional Bowlers' Association (PBA) Tour, Esther will team up with seven-time PBA Tour champion Marshall Kent.