By Matt Cannizzaro and David Prange
USBC Communications

RENO, Nev. - Charles Surina of Bolingbrook, Ill., and Bill Guszczo of Orland Park, Ill., made their first time as doubles partners a memorable one as they cruised into the Regular Doubles lead at the USBC Open Championships on Sunday.

The two have bowled against each other in local tournaments, and their decision to team up on bowling's biggest stage resulted in a 1,447 doubles total at the National Bowling Stadium. Mike Kruse Jr. and Mike Kruse Sr. of Vermillion, S.D., previously held the lead with 1,438.

Surina led the way with games of 201, 268 and 289 for a 758 series, while Guszczo added 195, 236 and 258 for 689.

"We knew the lead was over 1,400," Guszczo said. "But we weren't sure of the exact number. The only thing I knew for sure was that I needed to strike out in the 10th frame to have any chance." 

Surina, a 40-year-old right-hander who is a teacher at Thornton Township High School in Harvey, Ill., has been bowling with the same Lawn Lanes team for his entire 17-year Open Championships career. Guszczo, a 26-year-old right-hander making his fifth Open Championships appearance, joined the group this year.

Lawn Lanes proprietor, Rich Supanich, is the group's coordinator, as well as Surina's father-in-law, and competed in the Open Championships for the 46th time.

Supanich helped his teams prepare for this year's tournament by putting out the tournament pattern at Lawn Lanes.

"It really helped us prepare for Reno," Surina said. "It certainly wasn't exactly the same, but it gave us a pretty good idea of what we might expect."

Surina saw his name at the top of the leaderboard at the Open Championships before as a member of the Lawn Lanes team that finished second in Regular Team at the 1999 tournament in Syracuse, N.Y. 

"We were in the lead for a while and finished second," Surina said. "So, I've had this experience before. I don't know if this score will hold up, but I'd rather be the leader in the clubhouse and let the others come after us." 

Surina added a 683 series in team and 686 in singles for a 2,127 all-events total, which moved him into fifth place in Regular All-Events. Kelly Bonta of Wichita, Kan., leads with 2,177. Guszczo had 595 in team and 654 in singles for 1,938.

The duo also helped Lawn Lanes 2 of Burbank, Ill., into eighth place in Team All-Events with a 9,494 total. Brian Markovich contributed a 1,913 all-events total and was followed by Anthony Slezak (1,840) and David Supanich (1,676). 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 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.