NORTH CANTON — Alex McCourry was attempting to halt two realities during the College Bowl Tournaments singles event at Park Centre Lanes.
One, the No. 1 seed has rarely emerged as the champion; second, despite claiming doubles titles in the past, the 27-year-old Canton left-hander has yet to claim a singles title.
Both changed Saturday as the top-seeded McCourry topped Matt Mosser 279-216 to claim the title.
“It’s weird … it really hasn’t sunk in yet,” McCourry said. “I’ve won a couple of doubles, but it has never been just me.
“I honestly don’t know what changed. I came in with the mindset to just cash and see what happens. I got matched up and lined up early.”
That was an understatement.
McCourry stared 259, 300, 256 for 815 during his first three games and added 248 in the finale for 1,063, 97 spins ahead of second-place Scott Vandegrift.
“I got lined up early, my adjustments were good and everything just fell my way,” McCourry said. “The lanes more or less stayed pretty much the same except for 35 and 36, which were three (boards) tighter at the start and got tighter.”
McCourry first stopped Tony Godden 223-211 in his opening match, throwing four strikes in a row to clinch the win.
Then in the second round, the lefty threw the final six strikes to stop Rick Shawver 245-233 to reach the finale.
Mosser advanced with a 217-203 win over Eric Selzer and a 227-172 victory over Vandegrift in the semifinals.
And McCourry did it with a ball he bought for just $25.
“I bought it off a kid at work,” McCourry, an Ace Mitchell Bowlers Mart employee said of his Columbia 300 Eruption Pearl. “He hated it, so I bought it and replugged it. It worked out well.”
NOTEBOOK: The event drew 36 entries, with Godden being the cut for match play with 916. The last cash spot was at 911. … The next event is a doubles at 10 a.m. April 15 at Eastbury Bowling Center. This is a change from the original schedule. Entry fee is $130. Go to College Bowl Tournaments on Facebook for information.
COLLEGE BOWL TOURNAMENT SINGLES
(Saturday, at Park Centre Lanes)
Quarterfinals (losers received $125): Alex McCourry d. Tony Godden 223-211; Rick Shawver d. Nate Sommers 231-208; Scott Vandegrift d. J.D. Jones 193-175; Matt Mosser d. Eric Selzer 217-203.
Semifinals (losers received $180): McCourry d. Shawver 245-233; Mosser d. Vandegriftr 227-172.
Championship (winner received $465, loser received $280): McCourry d. Mossesr 279-216.
Other cashers (with four-game pinfalls): 9, Matt Latarski 913, $60; 10, Bryce Ryan 911, $60.