RENO, Nev. - Alex Aguiar of Dartmouth, Mass., and former Professional Bowlers Association exempt player Brian LeClair of Albany, N.Y., broke a long-standing tie atop the Regular Doubles leaderboard by posting a 1,422 total at the National Bowling Stadium on Saturday.

Aguiar paced the duo with a 780 series, while LeClair added 642. Joe Keltner and Chris Greene of Wichita, Kan., and Joe Conti Jr., of Liverpool, N.Y., and Derek Magno of Cicero, N.Y., previously held the top spot with 1,403.

Aguiar, a 33-year-old right-hander, stepped up in the final game with a chance to record the first 800 series of the 2013 USBC Open Championships, before a nine pin in the 10th frame ended his run.

"I just wanted to make a good shot and give our team a chance to pass that number," said Aguiar, who made his 16th Open Championships appearance. "We knew what the numbers were coming in, and I just wanted to give Brian a chance when he got up in the 10th frame. Luckily, the 9 pin didn't stop us from getting there. Brian threw great shots to get us there, too. It's a team effort. I don't look at it as though I bowled 780, I look at it as we bowled 1,422."

With the addition of fresh oil and a separate oil pattern for team and doubles/singles in 2013, both Aguiar and LeClair believed that working together and sticking to a game plan was crucial to their success. They also prepared by bowling a few sets at the Storm Bowlers Journal Championships, which features the same oil pattern.

"I think the biggest thing is having quality guys on your pair who know how to breakdown a lane the right way," said LeClair, a 48-year-old right-hander who owns 14 PBA regional titles and made his 17th Open Championships appearance. "That kept us in the right spot, and then I just fed off of Alex all day. I was just along for the ride."

Aguiar added 676 in team and 664 in singles to move into 10th in Regular All-Events with a 2,120 total, which is a career high at the event. LeClair added 708 in team and 675 in singles for 2,025.
Both bowlers know the significance of adding an Open Championships title to their resumes and would like nothing more than taking home their first eagles. Team USA member John Szczerbinski of North Tonawanda, N.Y., leads Regular All-Events with 2,228 and Regular Singles with 789.

"Winning an eagle is all I bowl for," said Aguiar, who won the 2011 Summer Mini-Eliminator. "I've competed at high levels and bowled Tour stops. There are two events in my life that I want to win - a USBC eagle and the U.S. Open. Those two tournaments are the Mecca of bowling, and if we find a way to hold onto this, it would mean everything.

"I would finally have my name on something," said LeClair, who has two second-place finishes on the PBA Tour. "I've been bowling for a long time. I bowled on the PBA Tour for a long time, and my name is second a lot. Hopefully I'll finally have my name on something."

Aguiar and LeClair also helped Pink Bowites of Oak Creek, Wis., move just outside the top 10 in Team All-Events this week with a 9,890 total. They were joined by Chris Bardol (1,964), PBA Hall of Famer Doug Kent (1,945) and Kenneth Muscato (1,836). Junior Team USA Support 1 of Mansfield, Texas, leads with 10,247.

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