RENO, Nev. - Ken Duffield of Madison, Wis., can't put into words what it would mean to win a title at the USBC Open Championships, but he knows he'll never hoist one of the event's coveted eagle trophies unless he keeps putting himself in position to win.

The 41-year-old right-hander did just that as he catapulted himself into the top spot in Regular All-Events with a 2,120 total at the National Bowling Stadium on Saturday night. Steve Jakubowski of Temperance, Mich., previously held the lead with 2,102.

After a 652 series in team Friday, Duffield needed to average more than 241 in doubles and singles to take the lead. He relied on 14 years of Open Championships experience and recorded 60 clean frames, including strikes on his final nine shots, as he posted sets of 742 in singles and 726 in doubles.

"We watched the people who bowled in front of us, and that really helped us figure out how we were going to play the lanes," said Duffield, who finished this year's campaign with 86 clean frames. "I did get a little tired in the second game of singles, but I was able to regain my focus and throw good shots. I got as much as I could, and I'm very happy overall."

Duffield has enjoyed previous success on the tournament lanes, including a 300 game in 2006 and an 801 series en route to a third-place doubles finish in 2007, but it's that elusive championship that keeps him motivated and working hard.

In order to prepare for their trip to Reno, Duffield and his teammates spent time practicing at Rob Bailey's Bowling Pro Shop and Lanes in Sun Prairie, Wis., where Bailey is able to mimic the tournament lane condition and help prepare Wisconsin hopefuls.

"We've practiced there (Rob Bailey's Pro Shop) the last two years, and it has been really helpful," said Duffield, whose previous high all-events total of 2,106 came at the National Bowling Stadium in 2007. "This year, I went there twice, for about an hour and a half total. Rob is able to get the pattern set up right away and can get any new technology quickly, too. I don't think Rob knows how close he got the pattern this year, but it was close. Then, it was about breaking the lanes down correctly as a group, and I think this is the best we've bowled as a team."

Duffield helped Madison's Team Dirty to a 3,127 total, which is fourth in Regular Team. He was joined on the lanes by Brian Hoffman (674), Heath Haug (617) and Jay Heinzelman and Chris Pounders with 592 apiece. On Track Pro Shop 1 of Lockport, Ill., leads with 3,224.

The group also cracked the top five in Team All-Events, settling into third place with a 9,570 total. Hoffman turned in a 2,038 all-events effort, currently eighth in Regular All-Events, and was followed by Haug (1,840), Pounders (1,837) and Heinzelman (1,735). DAPP Embroidery of Grand Prairie, Texas, leads with 9,911.

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

Presenting sponsors for the 2011 USBC Open Championships are Circus Circus, Eldorado Hotel Casino and Silver Legacy Resort Casino in Reno, Nev. Other sponsors include Sands Regency Casino Hotel, official brackets sponsor, Kegel, official lane maintenance provider, Humana, official registration sponsor, US Steltronic, official scoring system, and supporting sponsors Storm Bowling Products, UPS, Nationwide Insurance, Atlantis Casino Resort and Spa, Harrah's Reno Casino and Hotel and Peppermill Hotel Casino.