As the news got to her that she indeed had become just the second American woman in World Championships history to win the singles gold, O'Keefe gasped for air, threw her hands into her face and began crying.

"I don't think I can describe this feeling, it's so surreal," said O'Keefe, who posted a six-game total of 1,362 on the third of four singles squads. "When I found out I won, I couldn't breathe and then I felt relief more than anything. There were so many good women bowling on that last squad, and I was a nervous disaster."

When the dust settled after the final squad, it turned out O'Keefe didn't have much to worry about after all. The three medalists all competed on the third singles squad.

Joining O'Keefe on the medal stand is Ann-Maree Putney of Australia, who took silver with 1,336, and Malaysia's Wendy Chai, who earned bronze with 1,302.

Since singles was added to the World Championships in 1978, the United States has had just one champion before O'Keefe's victory. Kelly Kulick won the gold medal at the 1999 championships in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

O'Keefe's teammate Tennelle Milligan of Costa Mesa, Calif., had a shot at the gold medal in all-events. Needing 248 in the final game of singles, Milligan shot 214 and settled for the silver medal.

Korean left-hander Choi Jin-A won the gold with a 24-game total of 5,316, an average of 221.5 per game. Milligan finished with 5,282 while Australia's Putney took bronze with 5,256.

"In a way, I'm a little disappointed because I didn't bring home the gold," said Milligan, who finished singles in 33rd place with 1,225. "I had a chance, but I just couldn't get it done. I was just lacking a little something today."

Milligan is one of three Americans who advanced to the match-play Masters, which begins Friday morning and features the top 16 players in the final all-events standings.

O'Keefe finished fourth in all-events with 5,219 while Lynda Barnes of Double Oak, Texas, was sixth with 5,193. Diandra Asbaty of Chicago ended up in a tie for 14th place with 5,100.

After O'Keefe, Shannon Pluhowsky of Phoenix was the next highest finisher for Team USA in singles. Pluhowsky finished in 14th place with 1,262. Asbaty was 16th with 1,259, Stefanie Nation of Orlando, Fla., was 42nd at 1,215 while Barnes ended up 56th with 1,194.

The Women's World Championships features 225 athletes from 43 countries competing in six events - doubles, trios, team, singles, all-events and Masters.

For complete coverage of the 2007 WTBA Women's World Championships, including videos, photos, stories, results and blogs, visit www.bowl.com.

2007 WTBA WOMEN'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
At AMF Bol Obispado, Monterrey, Mexico

SINGLES
Top 10
(Six games)

1, Shannon O'Keefe, United States, 1,362. 2, Ann-Maree Putney, Australia, 1,336. 3, Wendy Chai, Malaysia, 1,302. 4, Priscilla Maaswinkel, Netherlands, 1,295. 5, Sue Casell, Australia, 1,288. 6, Shalima Zalsha, Indonesia, 1,287. 7, Rikke Rasmussen, Denmark, 1,285. 8, Sofia Granda, Guatamala, 1,273. 9, Hong Su Yeon, Korea, 1,271. 10, Jazreel Tan, Singapore, 1,270.

ALL-EVENTS
Top 20
(24 games, top 16 advance to Masters)

1, Choi Jin-A, Korea, 5,316. 2, Tennelle Milligan, United States, 5,282. 3, Ann-Maree Putney, Australia, 5,256. 4, Shannon O'Keefe, United States, 5,219. 5, Shalin Zulkifli, Malaysia, 5,204. 6, Lynda Barnes, United States, 5,193. 7, Jazreel Tan, Singapore, 5,185. 8, Gye Min-Young, Korea, 5,134. 9, Helen Johnsson, Sweden, 5,131. 10, Esther Cheah, Malaysia, 5,126. 11, Kim Yeau-Jin, Korea, 5,114. 12, Adriana Perez, Mexico, 5,103. 13, Michaela Gobel, Germany, 5,102. 14 (tie), Diandra Asbaty, United States, and Malin Glendert, Sweden, 5,100. 16, Diana Alfredsson, Sweden, 5,096. 17, Kirsten Penny, England, 5,095. 18, Ingellimar Contreras, Venezuela, 5,079. 19 (tie), Maria Liza Del Rosario, Philippines, and Putty Armein, Indonesia, 5,075.

MASTERS
Pairings
(Best three out of five games)

(1) Choi Jin-A, Korea vs. (16) Diana Alfredsson, Sweden
(2) Tennelle Milligan, United States vs. (15) Malin Glendert, Sweden
(3) Ann-Maree Putney, Australia vs. (14) Diandra Asbaty, United States
(4) Shannon O'Keefe, United States vs. (13) Michaela Gobel, Germany
(5) Shalin Zulkifli, Malaysia vs. (12) Adriana Perez, Mexico
(6) Lynda Barnes, United States vs. (11) Kim Yeau-Jin, Korea
(7) Jazreel Tan, Singapore vs. (10) Esther Cheah, Malaysia
(8) Gye Min-Young, Korea vs. (9) Helen Johnsson, Sweden