- By Donovan Grubaugh
- May 31, 2026
Story And Photo From PWBA.com
Pluhowsky wins 2026 PWBA BowlTV Open for seventh career title. Pluhowsky is originally from Phoenix.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – After nearly breaking her own six- and 12-game match-play scoring records, Shannon Pluhowsky of Dayton, Ohio, won the 2026 Professional Women's Bowling Association BowlTV Open at ABC Gates Bowl in Rochester, New York, defeating Julia Bond of Aurora, Illinois, 268-205 in the title match.
The victory was Pluhowsky's seventh career PWBA title and her third at ABC Gates Bowl since 2025.
“I think the lane surface helps,” Pluhowsky said of her success at ABC Gates Bowl. “I think it hooks a little bit, and I feel like anytime they hook a little bit, I can play my A game. And when you're bowling your A game, it usually makes you a little more comfortable and it's easier to repeat things.”
Pluhowsky earned the top seed for the stepladder finals after notching nine wins over 12 games of match play, knocking down 2,967 pins for the second-highest 12-game match-play total since the relaunch, just 21 pins behind the mark she set during the 2023 PWBA Waterloo Open. She finished match play 249 pins ahead of No. 2 seed New Hui Fen of Singapore. Pluhowsky and New were joined in the stepladder finals by No. 3 Bond, No. 4 Birgit Noreiks of Germany and No. 5 Jordan Snodgrass of Adrian, Michigan.
Noreiks and Snodgrass started off the finals with a bang as both competitors had eight strikes in the first nine frames, with Noreiks holding the slightest edge due to her miss being a 9 count, spare compared to Snodgrass’ 7 count, spare. The German bowler, who is making a return to competition after becoming a mom in 2025, finished the match first with 277, leaving the 2-7 baby split and giving Snodgrass an opportunity to tie with all three strikes in the final frame.
After knocking down the first two, it was not meant to be as the 7 pin stood on the fill ball and Snodgrass finished with 276 and a fifth-place finish, good for $3,000. Their combined score of 553 is the highest total in any stepladder final match since the relaunch of the tour, beating the previous high of 536 set during the 2021 PWBA Tour Championship by Erin McCarthy and Verity Crawley.
Noreiks advanced to face Bond and it was another close match, albeit not as high scoring. The two competitors traded strikes and spares before the pivotal final frame where Bond finished first and could max at 269 but could shut out Noreiks with just one mark. A light pocket hit for Bond saw the 7-10 split stand and she ran the 10 pin over for 235.
Noreiks could double to advance, and it looked like she just might do that with a great shot in the pocket to open the frame, but she left her own 7-10 split and would have to settle for a fourth-place finish with 221. She earned $3,500 while Bond continued on to the semifinal match against New.
New has looked every bit like the player that earned 2025 PWBA Player of the Year honors and has been on a mission to repeat this season, claiming a win during the PWBA Northern Colorado Open and adding two top-three finishes at the PWBA Bowlers Journal Rockford Open and United States Bowling Congress Queens.
Bond started the semifinal match with five strikes in the first five frames while New could only manage one during the same timeframe. The second half of the match looked like New was going to make a comeback after four straight strikes in frames six through nine while Bond had two strikes and two spares during those frames.
New’s comeback hopes were quickly dashed in the final frame, leaving the 2-8-10 split and ending the game with 202 against Bond’s 237, earning another top-three finish and $4,000 for third place.
That set the stage for the title match between Bond and the southpaw in Pluhowsky, who both graduated from perennial bowling powerhouse Nebraska, where Bond now serves as an assistant coach. It also marked Bond’s third championship-round appearance since the start of the 2025 season.
Pluhowsky showed no signs of slowing down from her striking ways throughout the event, starting the title match with seven consecutive strikes and building a sizable lead over Bond, who went through multiple ball changes after opening twice through five frames before striking for the first time in the sixth.
The early string of strikes proved too much to overcome as Pluhowsky cruised to a 268 finish while Bond ended with 205.
The victory continues a remarkable stretch for Pluhowsky, who has won five PWBA titles since the start of the 2024 season while balancing competition with life at home alongside her wife and their three children.
“I just want them to know that if you work hard, you can achieve big things,” Pluhowsky said. “Kind of just staying grounded at home helps out here.”
Bond earned $5,000 for her runner-up finish, while Pluhowsky claimed the title, trophy and $10,000 top prize.
With one more event remaining in the week, Pluhowsky already has her focus on carrying the momentum forward.
“Hopefully the repeatability stays around and we can just get off to a hot start tomorrow,” Pluhowsky said. “Just staying focused, making shots, staying out of trouble and seeing how it goes.”
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Thompson Tournament News - Courtesy Of Kristi Smith - Thompson
Congratulations to our May Bakers winners!
Chandler - - - We had 61 entries. 21 in the 370 & 40 in the 430 cap
15 teams made cashing rounds. We paid out $3360 in prize money, and $792 in side pots
We raised $122 for Mesa Strikers Youth
The 300 pot rolls over with $626 and our strike pot roll with $1210
370 Division:
- Finals came down to Alliance Dion Lockett/Jen Senekham vs Justin Foos/Missuko, team Alliance pulled off the win 190-178
- High Games paid out $36 to each team
- High Series paid $108
430 Division:
- Finals were "Showboat" George Pasalano/Gunnar Hahn vs Jared Kapoor/Brad Erickson with Jarod & Brad taking the win in a very close match 234-230
- High Games paid out $76 to each team
- High Series paid $228
Complete standings including side pots and brackets can be found on Tournamentbowl.com.
Our next event is our Bakers Trios June 13th @ Bowlero Kyrene followed by our next bakers doubles July 25th @ Lucky Strike Gilbert
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Saturday Classic Worlds News - Courtesy Of Eric Carroll.
Date Change: 6/27/26. The alley had to change the date.
Please be advised the event is changed to 6/27/26.
SATURDAY CLASSIC WORLDS BEGINS NOW
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At 48+ bowlers across both divisions
Whether you're chasing a title, testing your game, or simply enjoying the sport with fellow competitors, Saturday Classic Worlds is where competition and community come together.
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