It began when he beat experienced international Ken Walker in the final of the Professional Bowls Association Dunedin qualifying tournament a month ago.
"It was unbelievable, because Ken's an idol of mine," Lusby said.
"He's the biggest name player in Dunedin. To beat him was a dream come true."
Lusby (30), a sales representative for Yellow Pages, beat Murray Glassey (Hawkes Bay) 11-2, 9-1 in the final at the Dunedin Bowls Stadium.
Glassey is second on the PBA ranking list and has represented New Zealand in the last three transtasman tests.
Lusby had a PBA ranking of 43rd at the beginning of last year and was 23rd equal at the start of this season. He is now ranked 11th and his goal next year is to make the top five.
Over the past month he has beaten the top three players in the New Zealand PBA list: Ken Walker (first), Glassey (second) and Mark Watt (Dunedin) third.
Lusby, who has a marketing and psychology degree from the University of Otago, was confident about his chances.
"I gave myself every chance," he said.
"I did not think the guys I had to play were up to Ken Walker's standard. After beating Ken I had the belief that I could do the job.
"I settled into my rhythm and stayed there," he said. "I was more consistent on the draw and didn't play any drives or run shots."
Lusby is excited about playing against some of the world's best bowlers in the Welsh Grand Prix next February.
"It's hard to believe that I'm part of that now," he said.
"I'm excited and I certainly don't intend to go there and lose."
Lusby, who grew up in Invercargill and was educated at Southland Boys' High School, fell in love with bowls when he filled in for a social game at the Andersons Bay club five years ago.
His best outdoor performance was to reach the last eight in the pairs with club-mate Billy Hinton when the national championships were held at Dunedin three years ago.
His previous best PBA performance was to reach the semifinals of the pairs with Hinton in a Dunedin regional qualifying event.
"I'm really ambitious and felt that I had a golden opportunity.
I have learned the techniques from Ken Walker, Mark Watt, Ross Brown, Regan Larkin and others.
"I feel that I've now got the tools to do it as long as I stay mentally strong. I've got more confidence with the game of bowls and feel it is my time now."
Lusby played for his grandmother Daphne Lusby, in her late 80s, who has lost her eyesight.
"She was supportive and quite emotional when I phoned her to say I was in the final," he said.
Glassey beat Phil Bennett (Waikato) 8-6, 7-9, 2-1 to qualify for the open singles at Perth, Scotland, in November.
Bennett beat Craig Merrilees (Southland) 9-6, 9-7 to qualify for the world indoor singles finals at Potters Leisure Resort in England.
Lance Tasker won the Henselite Shanghai singles final with 31 points to beat Ross Brown (Dunedin), 23, and Craig Merrilees, 16.
