Brian Frederick of Helendale, Calif., watched his friend and former teammate, Tim Rubel of Golden Valley, Ariz., roll a perfect game at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships on Wednesday, and rather than relinquish all of the bragging rights for the year, Frederick shot a 300 game of his own.

Making only his third USBC Open Championships appearance, Frederick started his doubles event Thursday morning with 12 consecutive strikes for the first perfect game of his 27-year bowling career and the 26th of this year's tournament. The 43-year-old right-hander added games of 142 and 165 for a 607 series, his first 600 on the tournament lanes.

"As I was on the approach on my way to delivering the last ball, my hand was wobbling all over, and I was just hoping to drop the ball in the right place," said Frederick, a substitute teacher who added 566 in team and 514 in singles for a career-best 1,687 all-events total. "I pulled the last shot and it went Brooklyn, and I was amazed when it carried. I never thought I'd shoot 300, and to do it at a championship tournament like this with my friends here is incredible."

While Frederick has bowled for many years, only recently has he become a competitive bowler, seeking out coaching, high performance equipment and tournament competition. Some of the best advice he's gotten along the way has come from Rubel.

"I've learned a lot from Tim, and he's definitely helped me on the lanes," said Frederick, who's been friends with Rubel for nearly 15 years. "He's such a consistent bowler, and it didn't surprise me that he was able to shoot 300 yesterday, and it was impressive to watch. And even though my name comes first on the list alphabetically, I guess he still gets the bragging rights since he did it first."

Rubel recently competed in a PBA Experience league for the first time, and the knowledge and experience he gained on the lanes helped him achieve perfection at the Albuquerque Convention Center on Wednesday.

After a 195 start in his team event, the 45-year-old right-hander made a small adjustment and rattled off 21 consecutive strikes for games of 267 and 300 for a 762 series. Rubel's perfect game was the 25th of this year's event.

"This is very, very exciting, and even though I've dreamed about it, I never thought it would really happen," said Rubel, a quality control specialist who made his eighth Open Championships appearance and added 651 in singles and 620 in doubles for a 2,033 all-events total. "After I hit 12 in a row, I just told myself to keep on bowling and have fun. I really started to get nervous in the 10th frame, but I'm glad I could finish it off in front of my friends and family."

Through the PBA Experience, a part of the USBC Sport Bowling program, Rubel has learned a lot about different lane conditions and how to combat them in an unfamiliar environment like the Open Championships.

PBA Experience leagues offer bowlers the opportunity to compete on the five patterns featured on the Denny's Professional Bowlers Association Tour- the Viper, Shark, Scorpion, Chameleon and Cheetah. While the patterns each feature different lengths and oil volumes, they all fit into Sport Bowling's 3:1 oil distribution parameters.

"Bowling in the league really made me think and concentrate on each shot, and it helped me be more confident in going to different houses and events," Rubel said. "Now, I really understand the importance of throwing good shots, and that's what I concentrate on."

And while everyone wants to bowl well at the Open Championships, the tournament experience each year is about more than just bowling for Rubel, who also had the opportunity to catch up with friends he hasn't seen in more than a year. Now, the group will have a story to tell for years to come, and Rubel is proud to have the bragging rights.

"Usually, my main goal is just to have a good time, and if I don't bowl well, I know I can come back the following year and raise my standards," said Rubel, whose career average at the Open Championships is 188.7. "This time, I made a dream come true, and it feels great."

2008 USBC OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Albuquerque Convention Center, Albuquerque, N.M.
(Top 10 regular division leaders with hometown and pinfalls as of June 16, 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, Ballard's Bowling Solution 1, North Richland Hills, Texas, 3,258. 7, Bowlers Universe 1, Rockford, Ill., 3,249. 8, Bluegrass Bowling & Golf, Lexington, Ky., 3,244. 9, Woody's, Mulvane, Kan., 3,239. 10, Marcor Technologies, Gaylord, Mich., 3,235.

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.