About halfway through his fifth and final game, Joe Mazuryk realized he didn’t have to throw another ball to win the Northern Bowlers Association’s season-ending Bob Guild Memorial.
The 37-year-old Duanesburg resident capped off a dominating effort with a 290 finale and finished with a 1,321 total pinfall to win the title by 169 pins over former PBA touring pro Brian LeClair Sunday at Del Lanes.
Mazuryk, who averaged a whopping 264, not only took home the top prize of $875, but he also won three individual game jackpots, as well as a huge payday in brackets.
“You don’t have this kind of finish often,” said Mazuryk. “I knew I was up by about 80 pins going into the final game. I got a spare in the first frame, and then after getting the next five or six strikes, I realized it was already over. I knew I couldn’t mess it up from there.”
Mazuryk, who is now on the Storm equipment staff, used a Storm High Road Pearl for all five games.
“I never had to move much all day, and I got lucky with the way we moved from pair to pair,” he said. “I felt comfortable all day.”
Mazuryk has been the premier Capital Region “amateur” bowler for more than 15 years and estimates that he has won more than 30 NBA titles, to go along with numerous Huck Finn crowns and some lucrative national-level events.
“I love this format,” he said. “For a family guy, it’s great to come in here and bowl five games and then leave. You’re not tied up at the bowling center all day. This is great, and I hope they continue to have these tournaments next year.”
LeClair, who runs his Revolutions pro shop right at Del Lanes, finished with a 279 game and a 1,152 total pinfall. He earned $470.
Kate Gardner shot a 1,070 and won $200 for taking the women’s division. Jenean Bailey (1,009, $100) was second.
Other men’s cashers included Craig Taylor (1,146, $370), Dan Furman (1,141, $300), John Riozzi (1,136, $270), Connor LeClair (1,090, $240), Mike Neumann (1,089, $210), scholastic bowler Justin Carl (1,084, $180 in Smart fund), Mike Drexel 1,058, $160), Nick Miseno (1,044, $140), Craig Schoonmaker (1,041, $120), Mark Kepner (1,039, $100), Nick Zautner (1,030, $90), Lee Aiezza (1,027, $80) and Taylor LeClair (1,013, $70).
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