KUALA LUMPUR, National kegler Esther Cheah claimed her first Professional Women's Bowling Association (PWBA) title by winning the Oklahoma Regional Tournament on Sunday (early Monday in Malaysia). The 38-year-old beat stepladder final's top seed Raina Davis, from Oklahoma City 238-216 in the title decider at the Sooner Bowling Center in Norman following her semi-final victory over Shelby Davis of LaPorte, Texas 249-234. Raina emerged as the top seed with an eight-game total of 1,687 pinfalls in the qualifying stage, followed by Esther (1,637), Brittney Kinney of Columbia City, Indiana (1,593) and Shelby (1,600). Esther earned US$1,600 (about RM7,480) in prize money and an automatic spot in match play at the PWBA Regional Showdown from Dec 5 to 7 at Aloma Bowl in Winter Park, Florida. Esther, who is competing in the PWBA Tour with compatriot Sin Li Jane, was delighted with the victory, adding that she was still processing her win. 'I haven't really been bowling that well all season, but I feel I have bee n improving each tournament. Winning this proves to myself that I am getting better and hopefully I continue bowling well in Detroit PWBA Tour Championship from Aug 6 to 13 Aug,' she said. Li Jane is the frontrunner for the PWBA Player of the Year award, after having won the PWBA Bowlers Journal Rockford Open, PWBA Greater Nashville Classic and US Women's Open titles this season. Source: BERNAMA News Agency