RENO, Nev. - The last time Scott How of Oregon City, Ore., and Thomas Ault Jr. of Portland, Ore., bowled doubles together at the National Bowling Stadium, it was during the high-scoring 2011 United States Bowling Congress Open Championships, and even career-best doubles sets for each left them well outside the top 10.

Their return to the NBS in 2013 was better overall as they moved into the Regular Doubles lead with a 1,351 total, and both cracked the top 10 in Regular Team and Regular All-Events. The father and son duo of Scott Hartnell of Kenosha, Wis., and Derek Hartnell of Wichita, Kan., previously held the doubles lead with 1,341.

Ault led the doubles effort Saturday with a 679 series, and How was close behind with 672. The two have been friends for 20 years, and Ault has fit in well since joining How's group at the USBC Open Championships in 2007.

"They all went to school together, and they bowl well together, and I clearly seem to fit right in," said Ault, who helped Team Tilt of Lawrence, Kan., (How's companion team) to the Regular Team title in 2008. "We play the lanes well together as a whole, especially now with the 10 of us bowling, and it works out good."

Ault and Team Tilt made a run at the team lead Friday before settling into fourth place with a 3,326 total, and How led Reunited of Lawrence, Kan., into eighth place with 3,176. They found the doubles and singles oil pattern similar enough that their strategy remained the same.

"Our strategy was very similar to yesterday," said How, who shot 740 in team and 678 in singles to move into second place in Regular All-Events with 2,090. "We were trying to break down the track area, so anywhere between 7-10. With less practice and less people on the lanes, it didn't break down as quickly, but I think as we transitioned into Game 2 and Game 3, that's when it started opening up a little bit."

After two games of singles, How and Ault both had a chance at the top spot in Regular All-Events, which belongs to Brandon Brilinski of Flint, Mich., with 2,103. Since How won a national title with Wichita State in 2003, and Ault owns four Professional Bowlers Association regional titles, neither felt the pressure of the situation.

"We just kind of lost the look in Game 9," said Ault, who had 695 in team and 669 in singles for a career-best 2,043 all-events total, which is fifth overall. "I don't think it was nerves to any degree. We've been in situations before where we needed to bowl well, so I don't think that was it. The reaction kind of went away for both of us, unfortunately. It's hard to change balls or angles after you've been bowling so well, so you try to grind it out, and that's what happened."

How's efforts helped his team into fourth place in Team All-Events with a 9,506 total. He was joined by Kristal Wilson (1,882), Samantha How (1,858), Clara Guerrero (1,847) and Josh Kubiak (1,829). Towne and Country Lanes 1 of Hartland, Wis., leads with 9,766.

Ault's performance gave Team Tilt a head start in Team All-Events, and the rest of the group will try to finish things off late Saturday night.

As the newcomer to Team Tilt in 2008, after moving over from How's team, Ault threw the strike that lifted them to the Team All-Events lead and a potential double-win at the  Albuquerque (N.M.) Convention Center.

Although they eventually finished second in Team All-Events, the wait to see if their team score was enough was an exciting one. Now, Ault will have his eye on the doubles leaderboard, starting Saturday night, while he's cheering for the rest of his teammates.

"When we were in the lead for team, I checked the Internet every day," Ault said. "We've got a few months left for this doubles score to hold, so we'll cross our fingers and see what happens."

Team Tilt's team series Friday included Joe Keltner (735), Chris Greene (658), Russ Wilson (637) and 2008 Regular All-Events winner Jay Futrell (601). They'll need to average 212.17 as a group in doubles and singles to reach the top of the Team All-Events standings.

Presenting sponsors for the 2013 USBC Open Championships include Circus Circus Reno, Eldorado Hotel Casino Reno and Silver Legacy Resort Casino Reno.