RENO, Nev. - Matt Descoteaux of Spokane, Wash., is looking to forward to marrying the love of his life, Charity Maple, on September 17, 2011. 

Not only can he thank her for what will be a wonderful life together, but he also can thank her for helping him roll the 39th perfect game of the 2011 USBC Open Championships. 

The 27-year-old right-hander fired 12 consecutive strikes during his final game of team at the National Bowling Stadium on Friday after starting with games of 169 and 238. His 707 series helped Team Descoteaux of Spokane, Wash., to a 2,905 total. Turbo 2-N-1 Grips 1 of Madison, Wis., leads with 3,473.

"It was just unreal," said Descoteaux, who bowls league at Spokane's Valley Bowl. "I wasn't really shaking until the 10th frame, and it was just so perfect with everyone around me being done except for a couple lanes down. It made it even more special to do it with my dad there. We've been bowling together for the past five years, and it was nice to share that with him. He was there for my first 300, and he has always coached me. It's been a blessing."

Descoteaux tried to concentrate on thoughts of his fiancee as he attempted to achieve perfection. It was those thoughts that ultimately helped him to his spot in tournament history.

"I thought about her the whole time," said Descoteaux, who made his fifth Open Championships appearance. "It definitely gave me a calming presence. I was a little more controlled, and it helped me keep my nerves under control. I was able to focus more on her than what was actually happening."

Descoteaux finished 10th in Regular All-Events in 2009, but had never started a game on the tournament lanes with more than six strikes, until now. His goal was to see the scoreboard turn red, which it does after the seventh consecutive strike. 

"The first goal I had was to see the scoreboard turn red," Descoteaux said. "That was the only thing I was going for. I got to six, and I wanted the seventh one, so I could have red one time. After that, I was still trying to stay in the team moment. I got up and took a couple of deep breaths and tried to remember to stay down. I got the 10th and the 11th ones, and my teammate me I needed to get through the 12th shot. I took that advice, got through it and it was perfect. The team definitely helped me out just by talking to me and giving me advice throughout the game. It was a team effort." 

One game before Descoteaux's 300, Chris Keating of Simi Valley, Calif., also made a run at perfection, but a 5 pin stood in his way and left him with the 19th 299 game of the year.

"Well, my last shot wasn't very good," said Keating, who made his fourth Open Championships appearance. "I've shot 300 before, so you tell yourself it's no big deal, but I still got really nervous on the last shot. Unfortunately, I dumped it and threw it to the left. It had a chance, but I still left one."

The 36-year-old right-hander has his late father, Jon, to thank for his introduction to the Open Championships. If not for him, Keating may never have made his debut in 2004.

"It's something my dad started doing, and he really liked to do it," said Keating, who added games of 174 and 177 for a 650 series. "Our first time was just because it was in Reno. We wanted to bowl in the National Bowling Stadium. It's the Mecca. It's the Holy Grail. When you say National Bowling Stadium, it sounds really impressive. But, my dad was always a bowler. He always said, 'a bad day of bowling is better than a good day of work.'"

Later in the evening, Tony Pezzulo of Montgomery, Ill., just missed his opportunity at perfection when a stubborn 10 pin ended his run and left him with the 20th 299 game of the 2011 event. The near-perfect effort came between games of 216 and 225 for a 740 singles series. Matt Weggen of Muscatine, Iowa, leads Regular Singles with 826. 

Pezzulo had the pleasure of sharing his achievement with his family. His father, Bob, competed with him on the tournament lanes, while his mother, Peggy, looked on from the stands. Just one pair away was his brother, Bobby, who also works at the nearby Storm Bowlers Journal Championships presented by USBC.

They've witnessed the 35-year-old right-hander roll honor scores before, but this one was a little different. 

"This one was definitely differently," said Pezzulo, who works at Fox Bowl in Wheaton, Ill., and made his 13th Open Championships appearance. "Out of all the 300s I've shot, I wanted this one the most. But this one probably means more than all the others because of where I did it."

Ten years ago, Pezzulo endured a finger injury which left him unable to use a fingertip grip. His father suggested he try a conventional grip, and it has worked ever since. It's just one more reason why this honor score means so much.

"This one is my best," said Pezzulo, who added 608 in team and 586 in doubles for a 1,934 all-events total. "Every year, you hear all of the various bowlers being honored for their achievements, and now that's going to be me. Although I had some tough carry during the last few days, it's still an awesome feeling. I still can't believe it. I thought I was going to go home a little disappointed, but this definitely changed things."

Just a few lanes away from Pezzulo, was first-time Open Championships participant, Marty Jobin of Hermantown, Minn., who made his debut a memorable one by firing sets of 770 in singles, 731 in doubles and 710 in team for a 2,211 all-events total, which is good for fifth place in Regular All-Events. Matt Weggen of Muscatine, Iowa, leads with 2,268.

"I can't even describe it," said Jobin, who bowls league at Country Lanes North. "I wanted to bowl good when I came out here, and I really just didn't want to embarrass myself. The shot was very conducive to my style of play, and I had a good ball reaction. I just never thought I would bowl this well. I just tried to stay level-headed about it, but I can't even describe it."

Jobin was in a group that featured six-time titlist and USBC Hall of Famer Todd Savoy. Jobin would like win a coveted eagle one day just like Savoy and many other Minnesota natives. 

"I would really like to," said Jobin, who is a mechanic at Minnesota Power. "I've had a really good experience out here. This has been more fun than I ever thought it could be. At first, I was coming out here with the idea that this would be kind of a vacation, do a little bit of bowling and relax a little bit. But now, I really want to come back and make this a regular thing every year. It's a fun tournament, it's run very well and I really had a good time."

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 Reno and Silver Legacy Resort Casino Reno. 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.