As a product of the Wichita State University bowling program, Jay Futrell of Derby, Kan., has been coached by two of the nation's best coaches and shared the lanes with some of the best bowlers in the world.

Many of those bowlers have etched their names into the record books at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships, and now Futrell is in position to add his name to the list as the leader in Regular Team, Regular All-Events and Team All-Events at this year's tournament.

After leading his team into the top spot in team on Monday, the 28-year-old right-hander returned to the Albuquerque Convention Center and picked up right where he left off to become the first bowler this year to roll three 700 series on the tournament lanes.

Futrell closed out his sixth Open Championships campaign with a 268 game and 753 singles set. He added 717 in team and 713 in doubles to take the lead in Regular All-Events with a 2,183 total. Bryan Young of Everett, Wash., previously held the lead with 2,165.

"I was really trying not to think about anything but the shot I was about to throw, and my training helped me focus on that," said Futrell, who was coached by USBC Hall of Famers Gordon Vadakin and Mark Lewis at Wichita State. "I don't think this will sink in until it's all over. I'm sure I'll look at the leaderboard when I can, but I did the best I could. If I see someone bowling well, I'll be nervous, but if someone beats me, it means they bowled well and deserve it."

Futrell will have a close eye on the action, though. Since February, he has been working at the Brunswick booth inside the convention center, and being on-site has given him a chance to talk to bowlers on a daily basis as well as see first-hand what's been working on the lanes.

"Working at the tournament has given me a chance to try some new equipment, and I've been able to practice a lot since I've been here," Futrell said. "If we're not busy, I like to watch the better teams and talk to people I know who have already bowled. I also have been able to bowl in the Roto Grip event to get a better idea about the lanes."

Futrell's all-events effort also helped Team Tilt of Lawrence, Kan., into the top spot in Team All-Events with a 9,986 total. Team All-Events, which was awarded for the first time in 1947, includes all-events scores from all five team members. Team Pabst of Madison, Wis., previously held the lead with 9,977.

"This is a lot more exciting because of last night, and anytime you get five guys together and bowl well, it amplifies the excitement," Futrell said. "Most of us have been bowling together for a lot of years, and our one new guy fit right in."

It was the newcomer, Thomas Ault Jr., who clinched the Team All-Events lead with a Brooklyn strike on the first shot of his final frame. Ault finished with a 1,943 all-events total and was joined by Joe Keltner (2,031), Chris Greene (1,920) and Russ Wilson (1,909).

"I went up and asked the guys if we had a shot at the lead, but all they told me was to keep throwing good shots," Ault said. "Usually, I like to know what I need, but it worked out anyway. We've gotten along great and the chemistry is there, and we look forward to the possibility of more success in the future. We've already decided to keep this team together."

With another 40 days of competition, the wait will be a familiar one for Futrell, who took the all-events lead at the 2004 event in Reno, Nev., but eventually fell to fourth place. That year, John Janawicz of Winter Haven, Fla., rolled a tournament-record 858 singles series and also claimed the Regular All-Events title with 2,224.

"Last time, I had a few bad games and really didn't think my score would hold up," said Futrell, who finished 13th in Regular Doubles in 2004. "And now to have a chance in more than one event is amazing. Winning an eagle has been one of my goals for a while. So many guys from Wichita have won here, including my coaches, who have six titles between them. I would definitely feel like I've accomplished something, and it would be a great reward for all of my training and hard work."

2008 USBC OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Albuquerque Convention Center, Albuquerque, N.M.
(Top 10 regular division leaders with hometown and pinfalls as of June 5, 2008)

Team
1, Team Tilt (Thomas Ault Jr., Russ Wilson, Chris Greene, Joe Keltner, Jay Futrell), Lawrence, Kan., 3,374. 2, Turbo Grips 1, Chesterfield, Mich., 3,308. 3, Rhino for President, Pleasant View, Utah, 3,298. 4, Bowlingfordumdums.com, Pritchett, Colo., 3,284. 5, Bluemound Bowl, Milwaukee, Wis., 3,268. 6, Bowlers Universe 1, Rockford, Ill., 3,249. 7, Bluegrass Bowling & Golf, Lexington, Ky., 3,244. 8, Woody's, Mulvane, Kas., 3,239. 9, Marcor Technologies, Gaylord, Mich., 3,235. 10, Armstrong Printing 1, Naperville, Ill., 3,231.

Doubles
1, John Socha, Oak Creek, Wis./Dennis Rakauskas, Apopka, Fla., 1,467. 2, Skip Wolfe, Dixon, Ill./Tom Carter, Rockford, Ill., 1,462. 3, Robert Slayton, Apple Valley, Minn./Jason Lutgen, Brooklyn Park, Minn., 1,445. 4, Todd Koehler, Appleton, Minn./Doug Blood, Montevideo, Minn., 1,444. 5, Erik Mattingly, Puyallup, Wash./Robert Hanson, Tacoma, Wash., 1,441. 6, Ted Baer/Josh Edenburn, Omaha, Neb., 1,439. 7, Steven Levering, Landisville, Pa./Jim Rutherford, Coatesville, Pa., 1,428. 8, Ron Case, Oakley, Calif./Sam Carter, Ben Lomond, Calif., 1,422. 9, Mike Granberg, Batavia, Ill./Dave Rodak, Naperville, Ill., 1,419. 10, Ward Mocaby/Steve Elson, Wichita, Kan., 1,416.

Singles
1, Bryan Young, Everett, Wash., 832. 2, Jason Price, Grand Island, Neb., 817. 3, Wilbert Moorer, Dover, Del., 784. 4, Warren Crawford, McKinleyville, Calif., 779. 5, William Uthoff, O'Fallon, Mo., 775. 6 (tie), Larry Aldridge, Aurora, Colo., and Alexander Shand, Myrtle Beach, S.C., 774. 8, Alan Pecora, Drums, Pa., 773. 9, Don Pyle, Wilmington, Del., 768. 10, Darren Weiler, Dickinson, N.D., 767.

All-Events
1, Jay Futrell, Derby, Kan., 2,183. 2, Bryan Young, Everett, Wash., 2,165. 3, Mike Rose Jr., Rochester, N.Y., 2,161. 4, Randy Weiss, Columbia, S.C., 2,160. 5, Warren Crawford, McKinleyville, Calif., 2,159. 6, Brian Kjergaard, Fulton, Ill., 2,147. 7, Edward Gallagher, Clarksville, Tenn., 2,141. 8, Todd Fenske, Weston, Wis., 2,132. 9, Chris Gibbons, Madison, Wis., 2,122. 10, Don Pyle, Wilmington, Del., 2,118.

Team All-Events
1, Team Tilt (Thomas Ault Jr., Russ Wilson, Chris Greene, Joe Keltner, Jay Futrell), Lawrence, Kan., 9,986. 2, Team Pabst, Madison, Wis., 9,977. 3, MoRich Enterprises, West Bend, Wis., 9,901. 4, Rhino for President, Pleasant View, Utah, 9,801. 5, Bowlingfordumdums.com, Pritchett, Colo., 9,794. 6 (tie), S & B Pro Shop 2, Sterling Heights, Mich., and Pam's Boys 1, Salem, Ore., 9,736. 8, Pollard's Bowl, Versailles, Ind., 9,708. 9, J & S Auto Supply Inc., Valparaiso, Ind., 9,684. 10, Buddies Pro Shop, Congers, N.Y., 9,667.