Jillian Martin closed the 2026 PWBA season by making history at the PWBA Tour Championship.
The 22-year-old defeated Germany’s Birgit Noreiks, 247-221, in Tuesday night’s title match at Yorktown Lanes in Parma Heights, Ohio.
Noreiks made an early push for the title by opening the championship match with five consecutive strikes. Although Martin started slower with two spares, she gradually worked her way back into the match as Noreiks was unable to continue her opening run.
Martin struck in the ninth and on her first shot of the 10th before finishing with 247 to secure the championship and the $30,000 top prize.
Noreiks earned $15,000 as the runner-up.
It was Martin’s fifth career PWBA title and third major championship. As if that accomplishment was not enough, Martin also became the first bowler since the PWBA Tour relaunched to complete the Triple Crown by winning all three tour majors. She won the USBC Queens by defeating Hope Gramly in the final, captured the U.S. Women’s Open after a roll-off thriller against Sin Li Jane and has now added the PWBA Tour Championship.
At 22 years and 24 days old, Martin also became the youngest bowler ever to complete the Triple Crown. The previous record belonged to Wendy Macpherson, who completed the Triple Crown at 22 years and 293 days old.
Earlier in the stepladder finals, Lauren Russo started by defeating Stefanie Johnson, 236-202, before beating Latvia’s Diana Zavjalova, 258-166. Noreiks then stopped Russo in the semifinal, 226-221, to advance to the title match against Martin.
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