SKANEATELES -- Embrace the moment. That's all Dan Guzalak was trying to do, and it paid off Saturday at Cedar House Lanes.

Initially, Guzalak had problems as he rolled in the winners' bracket of the Men's Citizen Masters. He fidgeted with his bowling ball between frames, struggling to fit swollen fingers into it. But once he got untracked, he was dynamite.

The 41-year-old right-hander trailed Gary Sutton, 191-184, after one game. Guzalak came back with 245 and 246, setting himself up for today's 11 a.m. showdown with Mike Ryan at Cedar House.

"I was trying to get a good feel early, and it worked," said Guzalak, who defeated Sutton 675-578. "My nerves were better today than they had been in other days leading up to the tournament. I was more sure of myself."

Ryan certainly fell into that category. He was consistent in a 646-554 triumph over Kevin Mead.

A former champion, Ryan was spun on his shield at the outset. On his first ball, he left a wide-open split, with three pins on one side and two on the other. Was the man who entered the day with the tournament's high average of 233.33 going to have a difficult time of it?

No chance.

"I was pretty confident because after that split I hit the pocket on my next few balls. I just moved two boards left and got it going," Ryan said.

Gary Sutton and Mike Sheehan advanced in the losers' bracket.

After falling to Guzalak, Sutton fired a tremendous 799 series to eliminate Mead, whose strong tournament ended with a respectable 613.

"I don't know what happened (against Guzalak)," Sutton, a 22-year-old, said. "I kept switching balls and nothing worked. I bowled in a lot of junior tournaments, so I think that has given me some mental toughness. I just went out in the second match and bowled well."

While Sutton cruised, Sheehan fought for his tournament life.

He trailed Derek Locastro by 51 pins after two games. The left-handed Sheehan strung a five-bagger from the fifth through ninth frames of the finale.

Locastro, who defeated Lee Burnett, 571-536, to start the day, continually smashed the pocket. Stubborn single pins, however, kept standing.

In the 10th frame Sheehan buried the pocket but left a ringing 7-pin.

Still, his conversion cinched a 654-648 over Locastro, who handled himself with class despite the tough breaks.

"I just wanted to slow down and hit my mark," Sheehan told well-wishers between handshakes after the match.

Earlier, Sheehan rolled 664 to oust Jim Locastro, who had 584.

Sheehan meets Sutton at 11 a.m. today.

Ryan shoots for his second title, having won in 2004. His approach will be businesslike, as usual.

"I wasn't nervous today. I was calm and focused, and I'll just keep throwing one ball at a time," he said.

Guzalak, clearly, is having a great time. He's had his family, including his father, Dick, and brother, Rich, in his corner throughout.

"It's a big plus having them all here. I'm sure their nerves get pretty unsettled while I'm bowling," said Dan, who spent time relaxing with loved ones and friends after the competition.

"But the big thing is to enjoy the moment. I'm very fortunate to be here and be out on the lanes."

Just go out today and put together three good games. That's what Guzalak said he wanted to do. But he didn't want to dwell too much on upcoming challenges.

Goodness knows they will arrive soon enough.

Noon Saturday

Cedar House Lanes

Winners' bracket

Mike Ryan 646 def. Kevin Mead 554

Dan Guzalak 675 def. Gary Sutton 578

Losers' Bracket

Derek Locastro 571 def. Lee Burnett 536

Mike Sheehan 664 def. Jim Locastro 584

1:30 p.m.

Losers' Bracket

Mike Sheehan 654 def. Derek Locastro 648

Gary Sutton 799 def. Kevin Mead 613

11 a.m. today

Cedar House Lanes

Winners' Bracket

Mike Ryan vs. Dan Guzalak

Losers' Bracket

Mike Sheehan vs. Gary Sutton