With eight days of competition remaining at this year's event, William Gibboney Jr. of Douglasville, Ga., rode the wave of a 674 doubles series into the Classified All-Events lead at the National Bowling Stadium on Sunday night.

Gibboney's doubles set included games of 224, 246 and 204. He added 575 in singles and 570 in team for a career-best 1,819 all-events total. The United Kingdom's Ken Iredale of previously held the Classified All-Events lead with 1,810.

"I think I am pretty shocked," said Gibboney, who made his seventh Open Championships appearance and teamed up with Roger May of Kennesaw, Ga., for a 1,196 doubles total. "I actually had no idea I was that close to the top or even the leaderboard. I am definitely excited."

The 33-year-old right-hander made sure he utilized the practice sessions available at his home center, which put out a condition comparable to what he'd see at the Open Championships.

"My home center did put up out a pattern for us to practice on," said Gibboney, who bowls league at Brunswick Zone Austell in Marietta, Ga. "The time difference was tough to get used to, but in the end, I think it helped me. I am from Atlanta, so I was working with a three-hour difference. I was a little tired bowling so late, but I was able to concentrate, stay calm and stay slow because I was tired."

Gibboney, whose previous-high all-events total was 1,762 at the 2004 event, also in Reno, uses the Open Championships as a way to have fun and reunite with his fraternity brothers from his college days. The only time he gets to see them is at the tournament each year.

"The tournament gives us a chance to see each other," Gibboney said. "We have guys from all over the world including Denver and St. Croix (U.S. Virgin Islands), so we take the time to enjoy each other's company and have fun. We always try to hit our averages, but we mainly want to make sure we have fun. If you can't have fun, then you shouldn't bowl."

With just over a week to go, Gibboney will be constantly looking at the scores online in hopes of receiving a congratulatory phone call from Open Championships Tournament Manager Duane Hagen.

"That would be really big news for me," said Gibboney, who is a personal banker at Wachovia Bank. "It would be a very humbling experience and something I will never forget. It would be a great privilege to have, and I hope I get the call."

Presenting sponsors for the 2010 USBC Open Championships are Circus Circus, Eldorado Hotel Casino and Silver Legacy Resort Casino in Reno, Nevada. Other sponsors include Sands Regency Casino Hotel, official brackets sponsor, Kegel, official lane maintenance provider, 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.