By Matt Cannizzaro and David Prange
USBC Communications

RENO, Nev. - Miguel Sanchez of Chicago made the most of his second career appearance at the USBC Open Championships when he took the lead in Classified All-Events at the National Bowling Stadium on Friday night.

Sanchez made a run at the Classified Singles lead with games of 220, 213 and 245 for a 677 series, which is fourth overall, and the big finish helped him to a 1,853 all-events total. Mark Bylander of Vergas, Minn., previously held the all-events lead with 1,842, while Glen Brown of Renton, Wash., tops the singles standings with 690.

"The lanes were hooking a lot," said Sanchez, a 23-year-old right-hander, who added 592 in doubles and 584 in team. "I throw the ball pretty hard and that is good for my game. I had some luck also. I had four or five Brooklyns and a couple other lucky strikes when the ball went through the nose. I was also lucky that I didn't leave too many 10 pins. I'm not too good at picking them up."

Sanchez, who bowls out of Fireside Bowl in Chicago, was invited to come last year for the first time when another bowler had to withdraw right before his team left for the tournament.

"I bowl league with these guys," said Sanchez, who finished 10th in Classified Singles last year with a 646 series. "More than anything, we're just here to have some fun. We love coming to Reno to gamble. Bowling well is extra."

Sanchez bowls using a two-handed delivery, and while that style has only grown in popularity the last few years, he has been bowling that way his whole life.

"I never thought about being in the lead in any event when I came here," Sanchez said. "It's really awesome bowling in this tournament. I'm going to try not to think too much about it before the tournament is over. If I win, that would be unbelievable."

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.