SKANEATELES - Mike Ryan was confident, just plain rock-solid throughout the day. He waited until his victory speech to let his guard down.

The 38-year-old never wavered on the lanes Sunday. He completed an undefeated run in the Men's Citizen Masters with a pair of bowling wins over Dan Guzalak, including a 695-660 victory in the finals at Cedar House Lanes.

“All day long I had a good look,” said Ryan, also captured the 2004 crown.

“My feet were slow, my timing was there and I had the right ball in my hands.”

For his win, Ryan secured the Ted “Baldy” Skowron Memorial Trophy, along with $500.

Indeed, everything clicked on all cylinders.

It was apparent early on, when Ryan rocketed out of the gate with games of 270 and 258 in his opener against Guzalak. Ryan won, 759-686.

“He's a machine,” Guzalak said later.

But when it was over, Ryan finally relented. In his closing remarks, he told enthusiastic fans how much he cared for the bowling community.

His voice breaking, he said it was the reason he had moved here from nearby Clyde nine years ago.

Now, he's the best bowler in Auburn.

Sunday's outcome, however, wasn't always a foregone conclusion.

Both Ryan and Guzalak fired shots hard over the second arrow, destroying the pocket ball after ball. It was simply a matter of carry.

Their finals match began tamely enough, tied at 203 apiece after one game.

Guzalak, who defeated Gary Sutton 663-634 in the semifinals, saw an opening.

“I felt good. I was free-swinging and felt like I had a chance,” the 41-year-old said. “I never gave up.”

Ryan, who preaches the offensive game while blocking out his opponent, certainly had Guzalak in his rearview mirror. Even when Ryan got it going again and rolled 245 his second game, Guzalak answered with 236.

“He was there on my tail every single frame,” Ryan said. “At no point did I think I ever had it in the bag.”

In their third game, Guzalak opened with a 4-9 split, but then reeled off five straight strikes. Ryan tossed a three-bagger before missing a 10-pin in the fifth.

Game still on.

But Guzalak was derailed. The 4-6-7-10 split popped up in the seventh frame.

Ryan, meanwhile, strung six consecutive strikes to finish, and the title was his.

“I was pleased by my performance. I'm not disappointed at all,” said Guzalak, who won $250 and the Joe Catalfano Sr. Memorial Trophy for finishing runner-up.

“I'll be back.”

Sutton opened play by ousting Mike Sheehan, 691-683. Sutton started with 247 and 263, but Sheehan's 276 second game cut the deficit to 40 pins.

Sheehan fought gamely to complete the comeback.

But although Sutton opened in two out of his first six frames of the finale, Sheehan couldn't seize control.

Sutton's late double clinched the victory, setting up a match with Guzalak.

This time, Sutton was the man trying to make up ground. He trailed the eventual runner-up 439-401 after two.

Sutton then managed a 233, but a late split cost him any chance. Guzalak rolled 224 to advance.

“I just threw a bad ball,” said Sutton, a right-hander who finishes his approach on his right foot, creating an unorthodox release.

Still, he had a great tournament, placing third to earn $200.

Sheehan finished fourth ($150), Derek Locastro was fifth ($125), Kevin Mead placed sixth ($125), Lee Burnett finished seventh ($100) and Jimi Locastro was eighth ($100).

Ryan joins an elite group of two-time champions. Benny Appleby, Lenny Charles, Steve Capella, Greg Spinelli, Tom Charles, Steve Feldman, Paul Liechti and Skowron are the others.

So how does Ryan measure up in that group?

“I don't want to think about that until I retire from the game, which I hope is never,” he said.

Moments later the champion shook hands with his father, Bill, who had watched his son execute to near perfection all day long.

11 a.m. Sunday

Cedar House Lanes

Winners' bracket

Mike Ryan 759 def. Dan Guzalak 686

Losers' Bracket

Gary Sutton 691 def. Mike Sheehan 683

12:30 p.m.

Losers' Bracket

Dan Guzalak 663 def. Gary Sutton 634

2 p.m. Finals

Mike Ryan 695 def. Dan Guzalak 660