Natalie Rooney wins women's trap gold medal at World Cup in Rome

Natalie Rooney picks up New Zealand's first medal of the Rio games after winning Silver in the womens trap shooting. Photo / Photosport.co.nz

Natalie Rooney has won gold for the first time at the ISSF World Cup Final in Rome.

The trap shooter has continued her rise up the ranks after the Olympic silver medal in Rio.

She held her nerve in a sudden death component of the final against a San Marino opponent, after both shooters hit nine of their initial 15 clays.

The first international Gold medal of Natalie Ellen Rooney's career finally arrived! The New Zealander 28-year-old,...

Posted by ISSF - International Shooting Sport Federation on Friday, 14 October 2016

Rooney, from Timaru, had only been invited once before to the World Cup final, which was last year when she finished ninth.

Since then the 28-year-old has raced up the world rankings and sits second behind Australian Catherine Skinner, who beat her 12-11 in the gold medal match in Rio.