RENO, Nev. - Linda Walbaum of Brighton, Colo., finished her 16th career appearance at the USBC Open Championships on a high note when a late run at perfection helped her to the third-highest series by a woman in tournament history.

The 42-year-old right-hander closed out her 2011 Open Championships campaign with games of 225, 268 and 297 for a 790 series at the National Bowling Stadium on Sunday, which is tied for ninth in Regular Singles. Matt Weggen of Muscatine, Iowa, leads with 826.

"I really wish I could have that last shot over," said Walbaum, who added 550 in doubles and 532 in team for a 1,872 all-events total. "I just got fast with my feet, and the ball didn't have a chance to finish. I knew there was a crowd, so I didn't want to look back. I would have been too nervous."

Walbaum worked her way through the youth leagues and bowled in high school before moving to adult leagues. She has five career 300 games, a high series of 808 and currently averages 216 in league.

"I started bowling the Open Championships as soon as they dropped the gender clause (1994)," Walbaum said. "This is a great tournament. I grew up bowling with the guys at home, so it was natural for me to come and bowl when they opened it up to women."

The highest three-game series by a woman on the championship lanes is 816, shot by Kristal Wilson of Wichita, Kan., in her team event at the 2006 tournament in Corpus Christi, Texas. Also that year, USBC Hall of Famer Wendy Macpherson of Henderson, Nev., rolled an 812 singles series and became the first woman to take home a Regular Division title.

Chris John of Cary, Ill., also made a bid for a perfect game at the Open Championships, but he fell short when the 5 pin refused to fall on his final offering. His 299 game was the 15th of the year to go along with 31 300s.

The 50-year-old's near-perfect effort Monday came in singles between games of 216 and 181 for a 696 singles series. He added 523 in team and 515 in doubles for a 1,734 all-events total.

"It feels great," said John, who made his 25th Open Championships appearance. "Sometimes, you don't bowl par here, but you expect that coming in. But, to shoot a game like that, is really exciting. The first ball I tugged a little bit, and it carried Brooklyn. The second shot was flush, and the third I didn't get off my hand clean. Nonetheless, I am very excited."

Click here to watch video highlights from the 2011 Open Championships.