Tayla Bruce. Photo: Bowls NZ
Christchurch's Tayla Bruce unleashed a stunning finish to clinch a women's singles gold medal at the world bowls championships on Australia's Gold Coast on Sunday.
Bruce kept her cool in a dramatic final against Canada's Kelly McKerihen, picking up three on each of the last two ends to win 22-18 after trailing 18-16 in the race to 21.
The 28-year-old said she fought to keep nerves at bay over the closing ends at Helensvale club.
Bruce, unbeaten in singles competition this week, became the third New Zealander to clinch a women's world championship gold following Elise Wilkie - a two-time champion - and Val Smith.
She adds the world championship title to her World Champion of Champions crown snared last year, becoming just the second person to claim both honours, following Australia's Karen Murphy.
"Honestly that last end all I am doing is preparing for the worst," Bruce said.
"It is crazy when you have the game and you hold it. I managed to finally have confidence in my line. Once you have the confidence in your line then you just trust that the weight is going to come.
"It felt like I was letting them go with my fingertips. It felt like being back at Burnside. I thought with adrenalin they were going to go heavy but we stuck in there.
"It is so hard to get to this point. It is so difficult just to make the final and I really wanted to make the most of the opportunity. It is just unreal."
The opening seven ends saw both players adapting to the slick playing surface, reminiscent of Bruce's home conditions at the Canterbury-based Burnside Bowling Club.
During this period, both players scored solitary points as they acclimatised to the conditions.
On end 18, Bruce, trailing by two, executed an on-target weighted shot that dislodged Kelly's shot bowl, allowing her to hold two shots. She added a third with her last bowl, scoring a critical three points and taking the lead for the first time in eight ends.
The subsequent four ends witnessed both players trading blows, with Bruce taking a 19-18 lead, inching ever closer to the 21-shot target.
Bruce displayed nerves of steel, opening with a back toucher on the 24th end, following with a second and third shot.
The Canadian, in a last-ditch effort, attempted to dislodge Bruce's bowls with weighted shots, but narrowly missed her target, allowing Bruce earn the two shots required to secure victory.
It made for a double golden weekend after New Zealand won the Para Women's Pairs world title on Saturday through Teri Blackbourn and Julie O'Connell.
Week two of the championships begins on Tuesday with New Zealanders in action comprising Andrew Kelly in the men's singles; Sheldon Bagrie-Howley (s), Lance Pascoe, Chris Le Lievre and Tony Grantham in the men's fours; Katelyn Inch (s) and Selina Goddard in the women's pairs and Val Smith (s), Tayla Bruce and Leeane Poulson in the women's triples.
- RNZ
