By Matt Cannizzaro and David Prange
USBC Communications

RENO, Nev. - Mark Bylander of Vergas, Minn., has a very busy schedule, but he always tries to make the most of his annual trip to the USBC Open Championships.

This year, he turned in a career-best performance, which helped him into the Classified All-Events lead at the National Bowling Stadium.

The 53-year-old right-hander was consistent on the lanes as he shot 638 in team, 638 in singles and 566 in doubles for a 1,842 all-events total. Scott Blaisdell of Malad, Idaho, previously held the top spot in Classified All-Events with 1,830.

"This is unbelievable," said Bylander, who bowls regularly at Zee Lanes in Frazee, Minn., and made his 11th Open Championships appearance. "I've been bowling with the same group of guys all these years, and this is, by far, the best I've ever bowled here."

Bylander gives credit to his uncle for his start in bowling as well as his love for the Open Championships.

"He got me started in bowling," Bylander said about his uncle, Lionel Bylander, who made 25 Open Championships appearances between 1951 and 1991. "I really took to the sport and have enjoyed it for all these years. I hope to compete in 25 tournaments myself."

Bylander, who is a fleet truck driver and owner, doesn't get the opportunity to travel very often. The Open Championships is his chance to enjoy some time off with his friends.

"I use the Open Championships as my one week of vacation for the year," said Bylander whose previous high all-events total was 1,707.  "If I take extra time off, it cuts into the bottom line. So, I always schedule this week off so I can bowl and spend time with my friends. I bowl with a great group of guys, and when I was struggling, they helped me find a different line to the pocket. It really helped me."

The march down Center Aisle also is a very exciting element of the Open Championships, and Bylander has always loved it.

"I really love the march out during team event," Bylander said. "It gets my adrenaline pumping to start the tournament. The people clapping, the music playing, and just the excitement of being in this venue, is really awesome."

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.