RENO, Nev. - Shawn Lee of Centennial, Colo., rolled the first perfect game of the 2013 Storm Bowlers Journal Championships presented by USBC on his way to a 765 series and the Open Singles lead at the National Bowling Stadium on April 2.

Lee opened with games of 234 and 231 before firing 12 consecutive strikes. The effort also helped him to the top spot on the Dual Entry standings.

The 37-year-old right-hander drew on his experience last year at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships in Baton Rouge, La., when he started the second game of his team event with the first 10 strikes before finishing with 286.

"I honestly tried not to make the same mistake I made last year," said Lee, who was able to finish off a perfect game at the 2008 Open Championships in Albuquerque, N.M. "I got in my own way a little bit and kind of grabbed one. I was just trying to stay in the moment and make shots. I hope the score holds up, but there's still a lot of bowling left and great players to come in."

After participating at the Bowlers Journal Championships for the first time a day earlier, Lee and his teammates realized they needed something different in their bags to match up to the oil pattern, which also is being used for doubles and singles at the Open Championships. For the first time in tournament history, the Open Championships features two lane conditions.

"We bowled yesterday and didn't bowl terrible, but we realized we needed something else in our bags," said Lee, who made his 11th Open Championships appearance. "We went to the booth to drill up a couple of balls. It was slicker than what we bowled on at home due to the new conditioner, but it helped us really prepare."

Lee was a fan of having the Bowlers Journal located on the high end of the NBS. For the first time in 67 years of competition, the event is sharing a venue with the Open Championships.

"I think it's very convenient, and I hope it continues," Lee said. "I think it's really good to be able to have bowlers walk 20 or 30 feet down and bowl on the exact same lane surface and oil pattern. It makes all kinds of sense."

Lee competed with HammerBowling.com at the Open Championships, and helped his team to a 3,247 total, which is just outside the top 10 in Regular Team. The group's crossing team, Lodge Lanes Too of Orlando, Fla., broke a 20-year-old record on its way to the highest team series in 110 years of Open Championships competition (3,538).

Lee's 2013 Open Championships performance included a 633 series in team, 536 in singles and 528 in doubles for a 1,697 all-events total.

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