SKANEATELES - It has been a red letter year for Chris Fleming.

Twice this season the 16-year-old bowler has rolled 300 games.

“I just keep practicing a lot,” Fleming said. “At least three nights a week. Everybody thinks I should be a bowler, and I guess I'm pretty good at it, so that keeps me working at it.”

And as a capper to such a great year, he took home the boys 2006 Byrn's Junior Masters title Sunday at Cedar House Lanes.

“It really hasn't sunk in yet,” Fleming said. “Everybody has been congratulating me, and that's pretty cool.”

Much of his success comes from the amount of time he spends on the lanes, whether it is at Starlite or competing in youth bowling tournaments around the state.

He placed second and fifth in The King of the Hill in Syracuse.

“The competition in Syracuse is a little tougher,” Fleming said. “They are older and there are more people bowling, so I think that has helped make me better.”

Fleming is a four-time qualifier in the tournament, where he finished fourth two years ago.

This year he maintained a 220.4 average for 27 games. With his right thumb torn open, Fleming said this grueling pace can be hard to keep up with.

“I'm mentally drained,” Fleming said. “I bowled nine games in a row today. It is tough mentally and physically.”

But Fleming's ability to tough it out came in handy.

Last weekend he lost and found himself heading into the finals in the losers bracket with a 72-pin deficit to make up.

“After last weekend I thought to myself, ‘This is going to be a lot harder,' ” Fleming said. “But I thought to myself ‘I made it this far, so there is a chance I might be able to win.' ”

Facing Jerry Ripley through two regulation matches and a final rematch, both competitors were drained.

“It was good and tough,” Fleming said. “After our first match I think we were both tired and we both sort of lost it. They were really hard matches.”

But Fleming pulled through earning a 572 with the help of numerous strikes - 14 in a row at one point - and falling just a few frames short of yet another 300 game.

Through the course of the tournament Fleming also wracked up four 700 series and a 299 game. This fine performance helped his mental state heading into the finals.

“I tried to be confident,” Fleming said. “And I tried not to get nervous, which I do a lot and I just kept thinking that I might have a chance to win the tournament.”

While the victory and other great accomplishments of the tournament were certainly sweet, Fleming is the sort of competitor that is always looking ahead.

“I want to shoot an 800 series this season,” Fleming said. “I've been bowling honor scores this year. So I think if I can put it all together, I should be able to get it.

In the meantime, Fleming refuses to rest on his laurels.

“It is a lot of pressure,” he said. “Everybody is going to be coming for me next year because I'm going to be the defending champion, but it still feels pretty cool to win.”

A victory Fleming said he wouldn't have achieved without a lot of support.

“I have to thank my parents,” Fleming said. “They travel a lot and take me to tournaments. They've been a big help.”