RENO, Nev. - Erik Hohlbein of Renton, Wash., used a perfect game to help vault himself and Shawn Copeland of Milwaukie, Ore., into the Regular Doubles lead at the USBC Open Championships on Sunday.

Bowling doubles together at the USBC Open Championships for the first time, the two teamed up to shoot 1,466 and pass Charles Surina of Bolingbrook, Ill, and Bill Guszczo of Orland Park, Ill., who previously held the lead with 1,447.

Hohlbein paced the pair with games of 258, 236 and 300 for a 794 series, while Copeland added 201, 276 and 195 for 672. 

"I noticed I really wasn't very nervous," said Hohlbein, whose 300 was the 14th of this year's Open Championships. "I just took a deep breath before each ball in the 10th frame and tried to make good shots. I felt comfortable on that pair of lanes, which I know helped me out."

Hohlbein added 646 in team and 596 in singles for a 2,036 total in all-events, which is his career high in five appearances at the Open Championships.

"I've never gotten set up with a regular team before, so I was really happy to come when this group asked," said Hohlbein, a 41 year-old left-hander who has been a manager at Boeing for 15 years. "I'm looking forward to bowling with these guys for a long time to come."  

Copeland, who just found out that he'd been elected to the Portland Bowling Association Hall of Fame, made his 16th appearance at the Open Championships, and also bowled with the group for the first time.

"I wasn't really very loose," said Copeland, a 44 year-old right-hander who owns Molalla Bowl in Molalla, Ore. "I wasn't able to create much room, but just tried to keep the ball in play. I wasn't completely sure what the lead score was at the time, but I figured we had a chance to get close. Fortunately, I made a good shot in the 10th frame, which put us over the top. I've bowled with different groups over the years. It's always been for fun in the past, but now I want to have a chance to win. I think I made a good choice joining up with this team."

Copeland added 682 in singles and 640 in team for a 1,994 all-events total.

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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.