RENO, Nev. - Former Professional Bowlers Association journeyman Curtis Odom of Coldwater, Mich., may not have found the winner's circle on the PBA Tour, but he's now a celebrity at the USBC Open Championships after rolling the first 300 game of the 2011 event.

The 52-year-old right-hander calmly drew on past experience and stayed relaxed with the help of his teammates as he polished off the 700th perfect game in 108 years of Open Championships competition Sunday morning.

"This was one of the goals I really wanted to accomplish," said Odom, who started doubles with a 232 game before rattling off 12 consecutive strikes. "I've been bowling at the Open Championships for a while, and you get to the point where you ask yourself if you're ever going to do it."

Odom, winner of the Steve Nagy PBA Sportsmanship Award in 1996, has been close to perfection on the championship lanes before, but never started a game with more than nine strikes. When he got close again, he remembered those opportunities and focused on finishing the job.

"When I got the one in the ninth frame, I knew I'd been there before," said Odom, an eight-time PBA regional titlist, whose 19-year tournament career is split between Open Championships and USBC Masters competition. "I was playing the lanes pretty close, my swing was good and I was making some really good shots. I got up in the 10th frame and said 'take your time and make a good shot.'"

While the perfect game earned Odom a spot in tournament history, it also helped him and Mark Weller into fifth place in Regular Doubles with a 1,352 total. Odom finished with a 216 game for a 748 series, while Weller contributed 604. Ed Seliga of Kenosha, Wis., and Chris Galovits of West Allis, Wis., lead with 1,408.

Odom added 604 in team and 553 in singles for a 1,905 all-events total at the National Bowling Stadium this year.

"I really enjoy coming to the event, and I enjoy coming to Reno," said Odom, an IT assistant at the Branch District Library. "I like the city itself. You know, the vicinity of the hotels, and you're able to stay within walking distance of the Stadium. As far as being in fifth place in doubles and shooting 300, I'm just really pleased and happy to achieve what I achieved this week, and I'm looking forward to Baton Rouge next year."

Steve Sutphin of Howey in the Hills, Fla., rolled the first 800 series of the 2011 tournament (827) in doubles on March 6. He and his wife, Maria, are second in Regular Doubles with 1,391. The effort also helped him to a 2,092 all-events total, which is third in Regular All-Events. Ken Duffield of Madison, Wis., leads with 2,120.

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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.