SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Growing up, Matthew Kuba of Chicago Ridge, Illinois, dreamed of the day he could join his family on the lanes at the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships.

Kuba eagerly awaited his debut at the 2013 event in Reno, Nevada. Two years later, in El Paso, Texas, he watched his grandfather, Richard Supanich, join the tournament's prestigious 50-Year Club.

In 2018, the 26-year-old's sixth trip to the USBC Open Championships also marked his first without his grandfather, who died in January after making his 52nd tournament appearance last year in Las Vegas.

Kuba found himself in position Saturday to claim his own place in tournament history, and he capitalized on the opportunity, rolling the 10th perfect game of the 2018 Open Championships. He walked away from the experience knowing he made his family proud.

The perfect effort at the Oncenter Convention Center came in his second game of singles on the way to a 760 series. His overall performance, a 2,040 all-events total, helped Lawn Lanes 8 of Burbank, Illinois, into second place in Team All-Events with a 10,006 total.

Red Carpet Lanes of Greenfield, Wisconsin, leads with 10,252.

Kuba used games of 248 and 212 to complete his singles set and added 651 in doubles and 629 in team.

The former collegiate standout at Calumet College of St. Joseph flirted with perfection during his debut at Reno's National Bowling Stadium, finishing his team event with a 298 game. He reflected on that moment as he prepared for his second chance at perfection, knowing what it would mean to his family.

"I remember watching them come out here when I was a little kid, and I just wanted to bowl with them," Kuba said. "Our first team was a family team, and my grandfather was really the inspiration. He always would help everyone out and did so much for the sport. When this opportunity came up again, I knew I couldn't let this chance go. Not only did I have to do it for him, but for my dad, who's been battling cancer for the last three years. I know he was watching us today, and that my dad was cheering us on from back home, too."

The 300 game came at the end of a furious charge by Lawn Lanes 8 during doubles and singles.

Kuba was joined by collegiate teammates Tyler James (2,037), Michael Davidson (2,033) and Mitchell Katic (1,973) and William Guszczo (1,923).

After posting 3,183 in team Friday, which is 11th in the Regular Team standings, Lawn Lanes 8 quickly settled in during doubles and averaged 223 for the set.

James (744) and Katic (672) highlighted the run by moving into sixth place in Regular Doubles with a 1,416 total.

S&B Pro Shop 1 of Warren, Michigan, leads Regular Team with 3,322, and Richard Eighme of Waterloo, Iowa, and AJ Chapman of St. Paul, Minnesota, lead Regular Doubles with 1,457.

Led by Kuba's 760 series in singles, Lawn Lanes 8 averaged nearly 232 as a unit in its final event to become just the second team at the 2018 tournament to surpass the 10,000-pin barrier. Team All-Events is the collective 45-game total of all five players for team, doubles and singles competition.

"We really fed off each other's energy and just communicated so well this week," said Kuba, who was a National Collegiate Bowling Coaches Association honorable mention All-American for the Crimson Wave during the 2014-2015 season. "I feel like it went by so quickly, just being in that moment. Moving into second is something special for us. It shows that all of the hard work we've been putting in our entire lives is paying off, and we're getting closer and closer to winning an Eagle."

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