RENO, Nev. - Kevin Hess of Atchison, Kan., got off to a slow start at the 2011 USBC Open Championships and didn't turn in the overall performance he was hoping for, but one game along the way took away any disappointment he might've had.

After shooting 447 in team Monday, Hess returned to the National Bowling Stadium on Tuesday and started doubles with games of 167 and 186 before everything clicked for him. A quick adjustment on the approach helped him fire the sixth perfect game of this year's event.

 "I had been struggling from the start, but decided to move right on the lane," said Hess, who made his 16th Open Championships appearance. "I started with the first three strikes in the last game, and everything just clicked, so I stayed with that. I was feeling OK until the last ball, and that's when I got really nervous. I pulled the last shot, but luckily for me, it carried."

The ball Hess used to shoot 300 almost didn't make the trip to Reno. At the last minute, Hess decided to bring it.

"I wasn't going to bring the ball I used today," said Hess, who ended doubles with a 653 total. "I was thinking about bringing something else, but I knew I would need something else for the oil that would be here. This ball had the little extra bite that I needed."

The 47-year-old right-hander tried to keep things as simple as possible during his run to perfection and told his teammates to continue bowling during the 10th frame.

"I was just trying to throw the same shot," Hess said. "I told myself to stay calm and try to repeat what I was doing. One of my teammates asked me if I wanted him to wait in the 10th frame, and I told him to bowl. Sometimes, when it's quiet, that's when you really feel the moment. I wanted to keep it as normal as possible, but I was nervous nonetheless."

Although Hess struggled throughout his time at the 2011 event, rolling a 300 game made his trip unforgettable.

"This is really great," said Hess, who bowls league at Belt Bowl. "I wasn't sure if I was going to shoot another 300 in general, let alone at the tournament. I am really happy to do something that made my trip worthwhile."

Hess shot 544 in singles and finished with a 1,644 all-events total.

Click here to watch video highlights from the 2011 Open Championships.
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.