AUBURN #- Throughout his long career on the lanes, Bob Kreydatus has wracked up a number of impressive accomplishments.

But even among the 300s and the 700s, and the 2003 Auburn Bowling Hall of Fame induction, there is one score that has eluded him: the 800.

While bowling in his usual Wednesday night Fred York Memorial League at the Polish Falcon#,s, Kreydatus got the 800 and much more when he broke the longstanding record of an 851 series held by Tom Charles.

“It was amazing,” Kreydatus said. “I've bowled for a number of years now and I've never had an 800. That is something very different, maybe a once in a lifetime thing.”

From the beginning, Kreydatus was feeling like he was in a good rhythm.

“I was in the zone,” he said. “Everything was just working well and the pins kept falling.”

After his first two games, Kreydatus had games of 299 and 300, and the elusive 800 didn't seem so far away.

“My friend Angelo Tozzi said that I only needed a 201 to get 800,” Kreydatus said. “But I didn't really think too much about it. I just got up there and tried to relax and not grab the ball. All it takes is grabbing the ball once and it can throw everything off.”

In his final game, Kreydatus bowled a 258 to earn his first 800 and break Charles' record with a three-game total of 857.

“It was a great night,” Kreydatus said. “I got three award scores and I broke the record. I know Tom well, a great left-handed bowler. A number of people have come up to me and congratulated me. That has been really nice.”

At 64, Kreydatus still works full time and dedicates a lot of his free time to the game, bowling in three leagues and usually getting in a little practice time on the lanes when he has a break from work.

“I practice a lot,” Kreydatus said. “I try new things and then see if they work. Not everything works at different houses, but I like to work on my game. I'm analytical by nature, maybe I over-analyze the game sometimes, but I like to think about new things and keep trying new things in my game.”

Kreydatus said he loves to stay active for the competition and camaraderie that comes with the game, but it is also the challenge to keep improving his game that keeps pushing him.

“I've made a lot of friends,” Kreydatus said. “And I have a lot of fun with this. And I like to play the game. I like to think about the game and do a lot of practicing. I think that has a lot to do with getting me to this point. There is something really exciting about playing.”

And even after making this high watermark achievement in the game, Kreydatus has no real plans to slow down.

“I still work full time,” Kreydatus said.

“I'm not retired. I might slow down a little, bowling and working full time can be hard on your body. But it keeps me moving. I have a use it or lose it attitude about the game, if I stop I won't be able to move, so it keep me going and keeps me busy.”