RENO, Nev. - Three bowlers already familiar with the spotlight at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships battled for the attention of the spectators at the National Bowling Stadium on Monday night.

Former Team USA member Scott Pohl of Burnsville, Minn., and Blaine Weninger of Clackamas, Ore., became the 10th and 11th competitors to roll perfect games at the 2013 USBC Open Championships, while Matthew Smith of Altoona, Iowa, fell one pin shy of becoming the 27th bowler in tournament history to notch multiple 300 games on the championship lanes.

The strikes continued for Smith and Pohl, who also made runs at the first 800 series of the tournament, before settling for 752 and 749, respectively. Weninger closed with a 731 series to kick off his 2013 campaign.

Pohl, a 44-year-old right-hander, knows the importance of working with teammates and knew he could rely on his as he stepped up in the 10th frame with a shot at perfection. In 2006, he helped Team USA capture the team gold medal at the World Tenpin Bowling Association World Men's Championships, and he was able to deliver again at the NBS.

"In the 10th frame, I just tried to be loose," said Pohl, who made his 23rd Open Championships appearance and sandwiched the 300 between games of 235 and 214. "I have great teammates, and they're there for me. I got some great feedback. Rob (Gotchall) gave me some information on what I should maybe do, and it worked. Without him, I probably wouldn't have thought of that because I was so in the moment. My teammates are the greatest."

Pohl's efforts helped Team NABRankings.com into ninth place in Regular Team with a 3,361 total. He was joined by Brian Waliczek (679), Gotchall, who owns two perfect games at the Open Championships (661), Adam Barta (638) and 2007 Regular All-Events champion Mike Rose Jr. (634). Lodge Lanes Too of Orlando, Fla., leads with a record 3,538.

Weninger, a 44-year-old right-hander, rolled games of 205 and 226 before ending his team event with 12 consecutive strikes. He drew on a similar experience at the 2012 event, where he started a game with nine strikes but only managed 264. He also kept his son, Jackson, in mind as the strikes added up again.

"I had the front nine last year, and this time around, I was much calmer," said Weninger, who finished fourth in Regular All-Events at the 2005 Open Championships in Baton Rouge, La. "I was thinking about my kid. He's 18 months old, he's home and I miss him. When I think of him, bowling doesn't matter quite as much, so it usually helps."

Weninger joins his teammate, Timothy Sepich of Portland, Ore., in the tournament record books. Sepich recorded a perfect game during singles at the 1996 event in Salt Lake City.

"I typically bowl better when they're a little tougher," said Weninger, who made his 15th Open Championships appearance and helped his team to a 3,021 total. "I make spares and keep it in play, so this tournament kind of suits me. One of the guys on my team threw one as well, so that's pretty cool to be able to share that. It was a nice experience."

Smith rolled one of 19 perfect games at the 2012 Open Championships in Baton Rouge, La., and looked to add his name to the short list of bowlers who have achieved the feat twice. The 37-year-old right-hander started his team event with 11 consecutive strikes, before a 4 pin halted his run and left him with the sixth 299 of the year.

"I actually thought it was a very good shot," said Smith, who made his 14th tournament appearance. "I was happy with the execution, got it where I wanted it and it just crept high. I probably got a little extra hand in the shot trying to help it, but I was happy with the whole game and shot. I just came up a little short."

He followed the near-perfect effort with a 269 game and flirted with the first 800 series of the 2013 event. He would have become the 32nd bowler in history with a 300 and 800 at the Open Championships, but he battled the transition in the final game and finished with 184.

"Toward the middle of the third game, we saw a little extra jump," said Smith, who has a career average of 217.4 at the Open Championships. "I didn't quite see the transition quick enough to keep up with the scoring pace, but I'm still real happy with the overall score. This tournament is the pinnacle of my year. I get to come out and compete against the best bowlers in the world, and I really like to test myself to see how my game is against them."

Smith helped Fran's Pro Shop 1 of Waterloo, Iowa, to a 3,348 series, which is just outside the top 10 in Regular Team. He was joined by Kurt Krull (680), Gordon Kilpatrick (675), Ronald Tragord (636) and Joseph Engelkes (605).

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