RENO, Nev. - Ryan May of Sinking Spring, Pa., has been a dedicated participant at the USBC Open Championships since 1998, and his 13th appearance turned out to be a lucky one as he turned in a career-best performance at the National Bowling Stadium on Sunday.

May started singles with games of 256 and 214 and then strung together 11 consecutive strikes in the finale before leaving the 4-7 combination for the fifth 298 game of this year's event and a 768 series.

The 35-year-old right-hander added 740 in team and 688 in doubles for a 2,196 all-events total, his highest at the Open Championships by 89 pins and good enough for sixth place in Regular All-Events. Matt Weggen of Muscatine, Iowa, leads Regular Singles with 826 and Regular All-Events with 2,268.

"I had a pretty good shot all tournament," said May, who bowls league at Berks Lanes. "The last pair still had a real good shot. I was throwing the ball well, and the lanes were holding up for me. On the last shot, I just got a little bit soft. The first two shots were perfect, but the last one was a little slow. I am very pleased. This is my highest all-events score to date, so I am very excited."

May has been around bowling all of his life. He currently runs May's Bowling and Billiards located inside Berks Lanes, and his father, Frankie May Jr., runs the Visionary Bowling Products booth inside the pro shop area at the National Bowling Stadium.

"Bowling has been part of my life ever since I was real little," said May, who shot 2,107 at the 2000 Open Championships in Albuquerque, N.M. "I enjoy coming out here every year to bowl this tournament, and I'm just really happy about what I did this year."

Both father and son had a chance to witness the other roll 300 games on the tournament lanes this week. During their team event, the elder May started with the first 10 strikes before leaving a 3-6-10 on his 11th shot for 287. May also is looking forward to sharing the good news with his wife, Michele, and their two children, Dylan, 4, and Alivia, 3.

"It's great to bowl with my dad," said May, who had 87 clean frames. "I love him so much. I don't get to see him a lot during the year because he's out here from February through July. It's great to come out here and get a chance to see him for a few days. My highest finish in the tournament was with him in doubles in 2000. I also can't wait to call my wife and my kids. They were real pleased when I called them after the team event last night."

May also witnessed his father receive a plaque for his 45th Open Championships appearance, which leaves him just five years away from joining the esteemed 50-Year Club. That is something that May aspires to do as well.

"I'm going to try," May said. "I can't see myself ever quitting bowling. I'll be here every year as long as my health and everything else permits. I really love the competition here. I love getting to bowl against the best bowlers in the world. I don't bowl as much as I used to, so this is the biggest tournament of the year for me. I try to prepare myself as much as I can because this is the Creme de la Creme."

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