By Matt Cannizzaro and David Prange
USBC Communications

RENO, Nev. - Bowling fans at the National Bowling Stadium on Saturday night got a double helping of excitement as new leaders emerged in Regular and Classified Team at the USBC Open Championships.

Professional Image Center 1 of Wichita, Kan., grabbed the top spot in the Regular Division with games of 1,050, 1,055 and 1,144 for a 3,249 total, while Paradise Lanes of Walden, Colo., was a few lanes away putting together games of 974, 938 and 998 for a 2,910 total in the Classified Division.

On Track Pro Shop 1 of Lockport, Ill., previously held the Regular Team lead with 3,224, and Shears Sports of Montpelier, Idaho, led Classified Team with 2,898. 

"All you ask is to have a chance to bowl well," said Kelly Bonta, who rolled a 300 game at the 2007 Open Championships, also at the Stadium, and paced Professional Image Center 1 with a 719 series Saturday. "I really love bowling here in Reno. I've had some great success in this building. What a great feeling. Just seeing our names on the leaderboard is amazing." 

Bonta's team started bowling together at Seneca Bowl in Wichita, but during the past few years, several of the members have moved to other cities.

"This is the one time a year when we all get together," said Bonta, who made his 24th Open Championships appearance. "We're here to bowl, but seeing our friends is always the best part. This team has been bowling the Open Championships together for eight years. We've bowled well several times in the past, but we've never been on top." 

Bonta was joined by Jay Bernard (664), Jerry Lower (652), Darin Galbraith (615) and Kris Schumacher (599).

"Looking back, we left some pins out there on the lanes," said Bernard, who made his 17th Open Championships appearance. "I don't think this score will hold up, but at least we can say we were in the lead when we left."

Paradise Lanes was led by team captain Matt Landis, who fired a 631 series. He was followed by Glen Hurt (609), Shane Hartman (581), Toby Sanchez (545) and Nick Cornelison (544).

"This is really unbelievable," said Landis, who made his 14th Open Championships appearance. "Now, everybody else has to come after us." 

The team members were pleased with how they bowled, but they didn't even realize they had taken the lead. 

"It seems like every year, we get a little better," said Hartman, who is the owner of Paradise Lanes and was competing in his seventh Open Championships. "I'm really excited about the whole thing."

Since the tournament doesn't end until July 3, Landis will keep his eye on the standings at BOWL.com.

"It's quite a while to wait," Landis said. "But we'll have to be patient and see what happens. It sure is an amazing feeling to be going home knowing we're in the lead."
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.