Paul Bajorski from Islip Wins the 2023 NYS Maters
_001.jpg "33rd NYS Masters Champion")
2023 NYS Master Champion Paul Bajorski with (left to right) Angelo Corradino NYSUSBC Association Manager, Jayu Kulkarni LIUSBC Association Manager and Joe Finck Manager Herrill Lanes
Date Posted: March 6th, 2023
New Hyde Park, NY – Paul Bajorski from Islip came out on top at the 33rd NYS Masters Championship which was held at Herrill Lanes in New Hyde Park on Saturday, March 4, 2023.
“It’s surreal,” Bajorski said when asked how it feels to be NYS Master Champion. “I tried to enter the (USBC) Masters this year and it was sold out. I knew if I won this tournament, I would get an entry next year.”
In one of the largest fields in the recent years, 131 bowlers competed in this premier event which brings out the top bowlers from all over the state. The bowlers roll five games in qualifying round. After the qualifying round, 13 bowlers from squad one and 14 from squad two advanced to match play. The top five bowlers received byes in round one. Match play consisted of two game single elimination matches with total pinfall determining the winner.
Bajorski entered the match play round as the 4th seed after rolling 1128 in the qualifying round. This earned him a bye in round one. His first opponent was Anthony Fusco from West Hempstead, rolling past him 470-366. He then defeated James Marinelli from South Hempstead 402-316. In the Semi-Finals Bajorski knocked off Michael Perrone of Deer Park 422-394. This set up the finals between Bajorski and Mike Martell from West Babylon.
Martell rolled a 1063 during the qualifying round to earn the 18th seed. In round one he defeated David Marquez 477-395. In his next match he ousted the top seed Joshua Roca of Garden City 453-411. He then knocked off Thomas Brodowski from New Hyde Park 407-356. In the semi-finals Martell rolled pasted Adam Zimmerman from Deer Park 467-339.
In game one of the final match Martell took an early lead rolling a 212 while Bajorski shot a 205. Game two was close and after a few splits by both bowlers Bajorski was able to squeak by rolling a 179 to Martell’s 166, to win the match by six pins.
“We both had a few bad breaks,” Bajorski said. “I had to keep my nerves down, Martell is tough opponent.”
Bajroski earned $2,000 for efforts, he will also receive a paid entry into the 2024 USBC Masters. Martell won $1,000 as the runner up.
Next year's event will be at Broadway Lanes in Fort Edward. Click here to visit the event page for full results.
33rd NYS Masters Champion Match Play Bracket
