RENO, Nev. - After some quick math, Anthony Talley of Romeoville, Ill., stepped onto the approach at the National Bowling Stadium thinking he needed to convert a 10 pin to help his team into the lead at the USBC Open Championships, and he turned to his teammates for reassurance.

The 41-year-old right-hander was correct, and he calmly converted the spare, which helped On Track Pro Shop 1 of Lockport, Ill., into the top spot in Regular Team with a 3,224 total Wednesday.

The group posted games of 1,011, 1,088 and 1,125 and moved past Durk Wholesale Lumber Co. of Hayden, Idaho, which previously held the lead with 3,204.

"I had confidence in myself and have been in plenty of situations similar to this," said Talley, who made his 20th consecutive Open Championships appearance. "Not many as big as this, however, but you try to handle all the situations the same. Mentally, you try to bring yourself back to past experiences. You can't win unless you walk out of here in the lead, so we all are feeling really good about that."

The team's game plan simply was to keep everything simple. They came in with a strategy and made the necessary adjustments along the way.

"We tried to break down the outside part of the lane," said Talley, who is a three-time Will County Joliet Bowling Association Bowler of the Year. "Along with that, we wanted to fill frames, make spares and keep the ball in play, and I think we did that."

After Talley, and teammate, Jeff Wyatt, both started the third game with the five consecutive strikes, they knew they had a chance to take the lead. Wyatt finished the third game with 237, while Talley tallied 220.

Wyatt led the team with a 679 series and was followed by Wade Gayhart (656), 2001 Regular Team champion, Robert Jakel (643), Talley (643) and William Shouldice (603).

"After we shot 1,088, we thought we had a good chance of taking the lead," Talley said. "Once we got off to such a strong start, it was all about filling frames and making spares. So, we knew we had a chance."

The team practiced on the tournament lane condition at Strike N' Spare II in Lockport and thought the lanes would play considerably different at the Stadium.

"When we first looked at the pattern, we didn't think they would hook as much as what we saw at home," Talley said. "But they ended up playing very similar to what we practiced on, so we were prepared."

Talley and his teammates have one goal in mind, which continually brings them back to the Open Championships every year.

"We want to win an eagle," Talley said. "The money is nice, and it's definitely a bonus, but it's all about the eagle and winning as a team."

On Track Pro Shop 1 also cracked the top 10 in Team All-Events, moving into fifth place with a 9,417 total. DAPP Embroidery of Grand Prairie, Texas, leads with 9,911.

Talley set the pace for his team with a 1,936 all-events total and was followed by Jakel (1,892), Shouldice (1,877), Wyatt (1,876) and Gayhart (1,836).

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 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.