Hocking (18) beat Connie Rowlands (Linwood College) 13-12 on the extra end in a closely fought final on the Northeast Valley green.
Hocking had luck on her side because her final bowl after the time bell had run looked short but a wind gust blew it over and gave her the shot.
"Tell me about it," she said. "It was crazy stuff. It was one of the luckiest things that have happened to me in bowls. I have the wind to thank for the win."
The scores were level 12-12 and an extra end was needed. Hocking had the shot with her first bowl on the extra end but Rowlands (17), who was fourth in the singles last year, looked to have taken the shot with her last bowl.
Hocking still thought she had the shot but was not prepared to take the risk. Her experience told her to play her last bowl.
"One time in the past I thought I had the shot but I lost the game on the measure," she said. "I decided to give it a go."
She need not have worried because she had a 2cm advantage on the measure. "But my hands were shaking when I held the measuring tape," she said.
Hocking played accurate draw bowls early and led 11-5 after nine ends. But there was still a long way to go.
Rowlands started her roll with a three on the 10th end and ended the sequence of four ends with seven shots and the lead 12-11 before the final end.
Hocking is a talented sportsman and plays age-group hockey for Hawkes Bay. She intends to take a break from bowls for a year when she travels to England on her OE.
Lanah Craik (Waitaki Girls) beat Sarah Davidson (Roxburgh Area School) 21-4 to claim the bronze medal.
