Kiwi bowler Tayla Bruce has won the women's world singles crown, defeating Canadian Kelly McKerihen on the Gold Coast.
Unbeaten through section play and knockout rounds, Bruce, 28, edged her rival 22-18 in the final at the Helensvale club for her first world championship medal.
Trailling 18-16, she picked up three shots on the penultimate end to snatch the lead, but either bowler could have won on the final end of the first-to-21 format. Bruce scored another three to close out victory.
"It's surreal," said the Cantabrian. "Honestly, that last end, all I was doing was preparing for the worst.
"I thought it would be 21-19, she's going to get two... worst case scenario. It's just crazy when you actually have the game and you hold it.
"I managed to finally have confidence in my line and once you have that confidence, you trust the weight's going to come. I felt like I was letting going go off my fingertips... it felt like I was back at Burnside.
"It's so hard to get to this point. It's so difficult to make the final and I really wanted to make the most of the opportunity - it's just unreal."
Last year, Bruce won Commonwealth Games bronze medals in fours and triples at Birmingham, before capturing the world champion of champions title at Wellington.
She won seven games in world championship poolplay, before eliminating Commonwealth Games singles and pairs champion Ellen Ryan in the semi-finals.
New Zealand has won three previous women's singles titles, with Elsie Wilkie successful in 1973 and 1977, and Val Smith in 2008.
Bruce's success follows a gold for para pair Teri Blackbourn and Julie O'Connell, while the women's four of Katelyn Inch, Smith, Selina Goddard and Leeane Poulson took bronze, after losing to England in their semi.
The new singles champion will now contest triples with Smith and Poulson.
