RENO, Nev. - If T.J. Schmidt of Osceola, Ind., needed a confidence boost heading into this week's USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships, he certainly got it when he tossed 31 strikes on the way to an 855 series at the USBC Open Championships on Sunday.

The 22-year-old right-hander started doubles with eight consecutive strikes and a 268 game and then rattled off 22 strikes in a row to finish with 300 and 287. A 3-10 split on his 11th shot in the finale ended his run at the tournament record books. His perfect game was the 10th of this year's event.

Only Ron Bahr of Topeka, Kan., the 2003 Regular Singles champion, has rolled back-to-back 300 games at the Open Championships (237-300-300), while Bo Goergen of Midland, Mich., claimed the 2009 Regular Singles title with a tournament-record 862 series (299-299-264).

"After I had the front eight, I was a little nervous, but I was just trying to stay calm and throw it well," said Schmidt, whose 855 series is the fifth-highest in Open Championships history and second-highest at the National Bowling Stadium behind John Janawicz of Winter Haven, Fla., who shot 858 on the way to the Regular Singles and All-Events titles in 2004. "The next game, when I had the front eight again, I was like, 'yeah, you can do it this time,' and sure enough, it happened. It was pretty awesome."

Schmidt, who is one of 27 bowlers to roll a 300 and 800 on the tournament lanes, made just his second Open Championships appearance this year, and it was a family affair as he shared the lanes with his father, Mike, and uncle, Paul. He bowled doubles with his father, who contributed a 527 series to their 1,382 total. Charles Surina of Bolingbrook, Ill., and Bill Guszczo of Orland Park, Ill., lead Regular Doubles with 1,447.

The pins continued to fall for Schmidt in singles as he added a 720 series to go along with a 657 effort in team. His 2,232 all-events total put him in second place in Regular All-Events behind Ray Edwards of Middle Island, N.Y., who posted a 2,258 total Saturday morning.

"I've watched T.J. bowl since he was 5 years old, and I've seen him strike a lot, but never in a row like that," said Mike Schmidt, who made his 10th Open Championships appearance. "He seemed so calm out there, and I was shaking like I was the one throwing it."

Mike Schmidt cherished the opportunity to bowl with his son in his first two Open Championships and share in his proudest day on the lanes, but now he's ready to watch him succeed with a competitive group of friends in the future.

"I got to bowl with him these two years, and that's priceless," Mike Schmidt said. "But he's got some friends from college and the (USBC) Junior Gold Championships to bowl with next year, and I'm excited for him to have that opportunity."



A student and bowling standout at Purdue University, Schmidt is in the midst of a successful 2010-11 season that includes three individual tournament wins and a 300 game at the Backhaul Direct Hoosier Classic, which boasted the largest field in collegiate bowling history with 69 men's teams and 41 women's teams. He also ranked third in average among collegiate bowlers this season with a 215.3 mark, according to CollegeBowling.com.

From here, Schmidt will turn his attention to the upcoming Intercollegiate Team Championships, which will take place at AMF Peach Lanes in Columbus, Ga., from April 21-23.

The event will feature 16 men's and 16 women's teams battling to become this year's national champions, and Schmidt couldn't be more confident as he prepares to lead Purdue into the season-ending event.

"This weekend was a huge confidence boost, but really, the whole last month has been great," said Schmidt, whose high series before Sunday was 811. "In team, I had to play straight all day and threw it real well, and today I got to move in. I'm hoping that will carry over, and I can be confident playing multiple angles at the ITC."

Later on Sunday, Steve Harms of West Valley City, Utah, rolled the 11th perfect game of the 2011 Open Championships.

The 45-year-old left-hander was the first bowler this year to accomplish the feat during the team event and sandwiched it between games of 225 and 198 for a 723 series. He helped his team, Valley Joist Team 2, to a 2,808 total. Brian Brazeau Pro Shop of Ocala, Fla., leads Regular Team with 3,439.

"I'm excited and very thankful," said Harms, who made his 14th Open Championships appearance. "It takes care of one of the goals I've had set for myself. It feels awesome. It's something I have dreamed about for a long time. I've practiced putting myself in those situations for years. My top goals were to shoot a couple honor scores and possibly grab an eagle along the way."

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.