RENO, Nev. - With his family by his side, James Loesche of O'Fallon, Ill., took his place in tournament history as he tossed the 40th perfect game of the 2011 USBC Open Championships.

The 41-year-old right-hander opened his team event with 12 consecutive strikes and added games of 184 and 116 for a 600 series.

Although Loesche was bothered by a leg injury that hampered him during the final game of team, he fought his way to the finish. He helped Bowlers Shoppe 2 of Belleville, Ill., to a 2,948 total. Turbo 2-N-1 Grips 1 of Madison, Wis., leads with 3,473.

Loesche's father, James, and brother, Christopher, joined him on the tournament lanes, while his aunt and uncle cheered from the grandstands.

"I loved every minute of it," said Loesche, who bowls league at Bel-Air Bowl. "To be honest with you, it felt like my very first one. I was 18 years old when I shot my first one, and today was very similar. It's awesome. I haven't shaken that much since my first one. I was pumped up. I was happy to have everyone here. This one is a big deal. It's Nationals."

Loesche has other tournament goals he also would like to achieve. Shooting an 800 series and winning a title are on his wish list.

"I'd like to shoot 800," said Loesche, who made his 11th Open Championships appearance. "I would also like to win an event here. It would really mean a lot, and it would be a part of history. When I shot that 300, I thought about all the people who were here with me. My entire family has grown up in the game."

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.