RENO, Nev. - Bowlers Edge Pro Shop of Neenah, Wis., put its Regular Team title on the line in front of hundreds of spectators at the USBC Open Championships on Saturday night, but a rough start proved to be too much for the defending champions to overcome.

The group struggled to an 866 start before things fell into place. Team captain Brad Kuhr led a second-game charge with 10 consecutive strikes before a 9 pin ended his run. He helped his team to a 1,189 effort and 1,108 finale for a 3,163 total, which is just outside of the top 10. Professional Image Center 1 of Wichita, Kan., leads Regular Team this year with 3,249.

While the tough start may have affected other teams, the experienced group never panicked. Instead, they regrouped and used their experience as a guide.

"It's tough, because we came in with a game plan," said Kenny Kempf, who contributed a 656 series Saturday. "We shook the first game off and still felt that we had a chance. No one gave up, and we all were thinking 'where do we need to go to get more pins.' Maybe we played the lanes right the first game and got some bad breaks, or maybe we could have moved in more and really whacked them. I think if we had moved in early, we wouldn't have had what he had in the second and third games. That's what I believe from a lane maintenance standpoint."

Heading into this year's event, the teammates were looking forward to returning to the National Bowling Stadium for the opportunity to defend their crown. They took home the 2010 title with a 3,408 total, the highest in the tournament's six previous visits to the Stadium.

"This was extremely exciting," said Kempf, who made his ninth Open Championships appearance. "On Thursday, I could feel the excitement and was thinking that this really was going to happen. It was great to be a part of it. I wish we had bowled a little better, but it's a great feeling to know that we are going to be mentioned forever."

Kuhr finished with a 678 series and was followed by Dan Paul (626), Timothy Rice (616) and Jason Wendt (587). Kuhr, Rice and Wendt also teamed up to win the Regular Team title in 2003.

As defending champions, the five bowlers were escorted down Center Aisle and presented with the Joe Norris Trophy to commemorate their win. With so much going on, it was hard to stay focused.

"This was very different than anything I have experienced," said Kempf, who bowls league at Super Bowl in Appleton, Wis. "There was so much going on with the walk down, presentation and a live-stream camera behind us. There was a bit of hype, especially back home. There was a lot of build-up, and expectations were high from friends and family."

Despite not finding their way back to the top of the leaderboard, it was a very exciting day for Kempf, and one that he and his teammates will never forget.

"Holding the trophy as a team was quite a moment," Kempf said. "I think coming back and shooting 1,189 was big for us, too. I think that showed a lot about us as a team and why we are champions. Anything can happen with us."

Bowlers Edge Pro Shop also bowled well Sunday.

Wendt and Kempf moved into fourth place in Regular Doubles with 1,419, and they helped their team into third place in Team All-Events with 9,728. Kempf led the way with a 2,027 all-events total and was followed by Rice (2,015), Wendt (1,958), Kuhr (1,952) and Paul (1,776).

Charles Surina of Bolingbrook, Ill., and Bill Guszco of Orland Park, Ill., lead Regular Doubles with 1,447, and DAPP Embroidery of Grand Prairie, Texas, leads Team All-Events with 9,911.

Earlier on Saturday, a pair of teams from Florida also made runs at the team lead but fell just short.

Larry's Precision Pro Shop of Cape Coral, Fla., led by USBC Hall of Famer Pete Couture, started strong with a 1,106 game and added 1,016 and 1,104 for a 3,226 total, which is second overall.

"It was a good day, but the second game was a little disappointing." said Couture, who paced his team with a 659 series. "We got off to a fast start, and then all of a sudden, we started to leave open frames. But we made a good comeback and gave ourselves a chance."

Couture was followed by Michael Lichstein (650), six-time Professional Bowlers Association titlist Ricky Ward (645), 2004 Regular Singles and Regular All-Events champion John Janawicz (638) and one-time PBA champion Larry Lichstein (634).

The group's companion team, 900 Global of S Fla., rolled games of 1,005, 1,120 and 1,093 for a 3,218 total. The team comprised of five former PBA members had a chance to take the lead in the 10th frame, but three splits proved to be the difference.

Mark Booke led the way with 659, and he was followed by two-time PBA titlist Rick Sajek (649), Paul Koehler (648), Adam Colton (646) and four-time PBA champion Steve Wilson (616).

The two teams also made some noise on the tournament lanes Sunday morning.

Michael Lichstein posted a 2,123 all-events total and cruised into seventh place in Regular All-Events, while helping his team into second place in Team All-Events with 9,845. Kelly Bonta of Wichita, Kan., is the all-events leader with 2,177.

Janawicz, a former Team USA member, added a 2,072 all-events total for Larry's Precision Pro Shop and was followed by Ward (1,949), Larry Lichstein (1,909) and Couture (1,792). The Lichsteins also are sixth in Regular Doubles with 1,402.

"I felt like I bowled pretty well overall, and we bowled well as a team, even though we left some pins out there," Janawicz said. "We had a good group of guys to cross with, and I'm happy with our numbers. I can also see some pretty big scores being shot this year if other bowlers find the same look we had."

A few lanes away, Wilson polished off a 2,048 all-events effort and helped 900 Global of S Fla. into eighth place in Team All-Events with 9,546.

Koehler added 1,935 and was joined by Sajek (1,872), Booke (1,851) and Colton (1,840). Koehler and Wilson are eighth in Regular Doubles with 1,375.