With only four PBA titles left to be earned in the 2018 season, the PBA Rookie of the Year race is still as clear as mud.

No player has put together a resume so far this season that makes them the favorite to win the award – not even close. So, the last four events of the season could be the deciding factor in determining who wins the award, which is voted on by a group of selected media and the PBA membership.

The only rookie to win a PBA title so far this season remains Thailand’s Annop Arromsaranon, who won the Busan Cup against a limited field of PBA players in Korea. Arromsaranon has only competed in three events – all PBA International events – and is not on the roster for the FloBowling PBA Fall Swing or the U.S. Open to close out the season.

Meanwhile, Kamron Doyle has competed in more events than any other of the possible candidates but has not broken through to get his first win yet. Doyle has competed in 11 events with a best finish of third at the PBA Xtra Frame Gene Carter’s Pro Shop Classic.

Doyle’s resume also includes a 14th-place finish at the United States Bowling Congress Masters among five Top 20 finishes this season. He is scheduled to compete at the Fall Swing and will bowl the PTQ at the U.S. Open.

Nick Pate has bowled in eight events this season and also has had a best finish of third, coming at the PBA Xtra Frame Lubbock Sports Open. However, Pate hasn’t finished above 30^th in any other events in which he has competed. He’s on the roster for the Fall Swing and is on the invited list for the U.S. Open thanks to earning a spot on Team USA in 2017.

Another player who could be in the mix is Rafiq Ismail of Malaysia. The lefty finished third at the PBA Xtra Frame Greater Jonesboro Open and 14^th at the Lubbock Sports Open in the only events he has competed in on U.S. soil. He also finished third at the PBA International-World Bowling Tour Thailand event.

Ismail is not currently scheduled to compete in the Fall Swing but is on the invited list of bowlers for the U.S. Open. If Ismail makes the show at the U.S. Open and no other player wins a title, he could be in good position to earn the award.

With so much uncertainly in the PBA Rookie of the Year race heading into the Fall Swing, it’s absolutely possible that a player not mentioned could move into the mix for the award. It’s also remotely possible the PBA may elect to not award the honor.

One thing is for sure, the mud will clear up a little bit more after the Fall Swing concludes on Oct. 20.