After a commanding 709-529 win in the first championship match, Ciminelli found victory in the second match only when Ciliberto's potential winning strike in the 10th frame went high, leaving a 6-10 spare and giving Ryan the 628-624 final tally.  Ciminelli earned $1,000 for his victory, while Ciliberto picked up $750 for his runner-up finish.

Ciliberto, looking for his first Masters win after knocking on the door several times, carried a 14-pin lead and seemed to hold all the momentum as the final game got underway.  However the lefthander's opening 3-bagger was derailed by an 7-9 split in the 4th frame, and a see-saw final 6 frames saw the lead alternate between both players.

Ciminelli was not able to double until he put together a triple in frames 6 through 8, while Ciliberto smashed a solid pocket 10-pin in the 8th frame which seemed to offer just enough opportunity to his opponent.  However, with the chance to lock up the match, Ryan split in the 9th frame, and although threw all three strikes in the 10th frame, had to sit on the bench and watch as Ciliberto was not able to convert on a shot that would have won him the title. 

Ciliberto advanced to the title match with a 677-594 victory over Buffalo's Zach Mangrum in the final of the winner's bracket, while Ciminelli defeated Morris Goodloe, Buffalo, 604-494, followed by Mangrum, 676-608, to reach the final.

There were three 300 games rolled in this year's event, two in the qualifying round, rolled by Ciminelli and Grand Island's John Leszczak, and another rolled by Ciminelli in match play.  Ciminelli earned the Pete Parisi award as the tournament's high qualifier with an 8-game score of 1966. and with his victory became the first Parisi award winner to go on to win the Masters title in the same year since the award's inception in 1990.

Ciliberto, the highest non-PBA exempt player in the finals, receives an entry and expense-paid trip to the 2011 USBC Masters.  An exempt player for the 2010-2011 PBA season, Ciminelli is not eligible to win the Masters package traditionally awarded to the Obenauer champion.

47th Annual George A. Obenauer Masters
Sunday, May 16th, 2010
AMF Lancaster Lanes, Depew, NY

Final Standings

1. Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, NY, $1,000
2. Jason Ciliberto, Gasport, NY, $750
3. Zach Mangrum, Buffalo, NY, $450
4. Morris Goodloe, Buffalo, NY, $350

Final Match Results
Ciminelli def. Ciliberto, 709-529 in the first championship match, and in the second championship match, Cimielli def. Ciliberto, 628-624