RENO, Nev. - In 10 previous appearances at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships, Joe Smith of Escalon, Calif., compiled a lifetime average of 181 with a high series of 612.

This year at the National Bowling Stadium, Smith put together the performance of a lifetime as he started his singles event with 17 consecutive strikes and made a run at the Regular Singles lead.

The 59-year-old right-hander finished with games of 300, 234 and 193 for a 727 series, and although he will not become the next singles champion, his name forever will be part of tournament history.

Smith's career-best series left him just outside of the top 10 but helped him to a 1,787 all-events total, the highest of his 11-year USBC Open Championships career by more than 60 pins. Kelly Bonta of Wichita, Kan., also rolled a perfect game on his way to the Regular Singles lead with 776.

Although the Modesto USBC Hall of Famer has thrown a few perfect games in his day, he felt the nerves of having to perform on the biggest stage in bowling to become the fourth bowler of the 2013 event to roll a 300 game. Even though the final shot wasn't his best, a little luck helped Smith carry the crossover strike.

"I was pretty nervous and the legs were wobbling a little bit," said Smith, who bowls regularly at Modesto's McHenry Bowl. "I didn't make a very good shot, but I wanted to hit the head pin and I did that. It was the most difficult 300 game I've shot, without a doubt."

Smith started his day with a 514 series in doubles and only was able to record eight strikes during those three games. After he loosened up and was able to carve out a shot on the pattern, the strikes starting coming. He added a 546 series in team Friday.

"Physically, I have a bit of a hip problem, so it takes me a while to loosen up," Smith said. "All of the bowlers on our pair were playing in the same place, so we opened the lanes up a little bit and made them a little easier."

With his best tournament effort complete and name forever remembered at the tournament, Smith reflected on the elite company he has joined.

"It feels really good," Smith said. "I was in the right place and had them fall the right way. I'm proud of what I did."

Presenting sponsors for the 2013 USBC Open Championships include Circus Circus Reno, Eldorado Hotel Casino Reno and Silver Legacy Resort Casino Reno.