Bowler Darren Ong becomes first S'porean winner on PBA Tour

A smile, a fist pump and a wave to the crowd. Darren Ong was a picture of calm before hoisting the prestigious Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Viper Championship trophy on March 17.

While this was no small feat, it was the 29-year-old's ability to maintain his composure that allowed him to come up on top against some of the world's best bowlers and become the first Singaporean to win a PBA Tour event.

Ong, the top seed in the stepladder finals, was up against American three-time PBA Player of the Year E.J. Tackett in the decider.

He held his nerve to beat the 25-time PBA Tour winner by 10 pinfalls (215-205), capping an impressive outing at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nevada.

His efforts, which earned him a cheque of US$20,000 (S$26,600), also made him the tour's first Asian winner since Thailand's Annop Arromsaranon at the PBA-WBT Busan Cup in 2018.

On his breakthrough, Ong said: "It means the world to me. Being able to compete at this level and come away with a win is truly a dream come true.

"All the hard work and sacrifices are truly worth the end result."

He had a strong start in Reno, leading the 12-game qualifying round with a 2,897-pinfall total, which included three perfect games.

Ong then recorded 3-0 victories over Stuart Williams and Trevor Roberts in the elimination bracket to secure his place as the top seed for the stepladder finals.

Tackett, who has already won twice on the PBA Tour this season, showed his class in the finals, beating Jason Belmonte (247-220), Zach Wilkins (254-237) and Kristopher Prather (224-207) but found Ong in inspired form.

Looking back, Ong said: "The three perfect games were a pleasant surprise but I didn't let that affect my routine in any way.

"I took one frame at a time and made the best decision I could at each moment; the strong qualifying set me up in a good position going into the matchplay...

"Thankfully it all played out my way at the very end."

In an interview with the PBA website, Ong credited his compatriots who have won multiple Professional Women's Bowling Association titles for paving the way for him to follow suit on the PBA Tour.

Ong said: "It's definitely an honour and privilege to be the first Singaporean to win on tour. I hope it serves as an inspiration to everyone back home that we can achieve anything we put our mind to.

"I have no doubt there will be many more future champions as well."

Senior national assistant coach Vincent Lim added: "Many Singaporean and Asian bowlers dream of competing on the PBA Tour.

"For Darren to secure a victory against over 200 professional competitors at the gruelling World Series of Bowling is not only a remarkable achievement but also a powerful source of inspiration.

"His success proves to aspiring bowlers across Asia that they, too, can compete and triumph on the world stage."

Since claiming his first international title at the Philippine International Open last May, Ong has continued to find success on the global stage.

A few months later, he won the singles title at the International Bowling Federation world championships in Kuwait, while bagging another two bronzes at the event.

For his achievements, he was named Sportsman of the Year at the 2024 Singapore Sports Awards.

He attributed that to the support from the Sports Excellence (Spex) Scholarship, which has enabled him to be a full-time athlete.

Ong said: "I've definitely gotten sharper at reading the lanes and made more accurate decisions, while I'm adjusting to the lane conditions which are always changing.

"All these are thanks to the numerous competitions that I've been competing in and the knowledge I have acquired from each one. Together with my coaches, we also break down each performance and see which areas we could improve on."

Up next for him is the matchplay rounds of the PBA World Championship, the major title event that will conclude the PBA World Series of Bowling, at the same venue on March 20.

He will then compete in the March 23-30 United States Bowling Congress (USBC) Masters in Allen Park, Michigan.

Commenting on Ong's progress, Lim said: "The key is self-belief and ownership.

"Over the past two years, Darren has taken full ownership of his professional development, allowing him to build confidence in his decision-making and learn from every experience, regardless of the outcome.

"He has embraced both successes and failures, gaining a deeper understanding of himself and his equipment along the way."