RENO, Nev. - A decade ago, Verne Heidenreiter of Sheboygan Falls, Wis., cemented his place in United States Bowling Congress Open Championships history by rolling a perfect game on the championship lanes.

The 49-year-old right-hander turned in a repeat performance during his team event at the National Bowling Stadium on Sunday to become the 26th bowler in tournament history with two 300s. It was the third perfect game of the 2013 USBC Open Championships and second of the day.

Kelly Bonta of Wichita, Kan., achieved the feat earlier Sunday on the way to the Regular Singles lead. It was the second of his career as well, and he became just the third bowler with two at the NBS.

Heidenreiter finished the first game of his 2013 tournament campaign with four strikes before making a memorable run at the record books. He added 12 strikes in Game 2 and started the finale with another nine before a 4 pin ended his string of 25 consecutive strikes. He finished with games of 215, 300 and 279 for a 794 series and helped M3 Advisors Budweiser to a 3,038 team total.

If Heidenreiter had struck out in the final game, he would have become the first bowler in tournament history with three perfect games and joined 2003 Regular Singles champion Ron Bahr of Topeka, Kan., as the only bowlers with back-to-back 300s.

Heidenreiter felt comfortable on the lanes this year after a successful team practice session Saturday at the 900 Global Showcase Lanes on the ground floor of the NBS, and as the strikes piled up, he was able to draw on the experience of his first run at perfection during the 2003 Open Championships in Knoxville, Tenn.

"I wasn't quite as nervous as the first time," said Heidenreiter, who made his 16th Open Championships appearance. "The guys I bowled with helped to keep me calm. We had a game plan for today, and for the most part, it worked. The pattern opened up a little more from all of us playing the same area, and I just started carrying."

With a chance at the first 800 series of the year, Heidenreiter admitted he tightened up slightly. He had his team in mind first, however, as he helped them accomplish their goal of shooting 3,000.

"I got a little tight on the first one in the 10th knowing that if I had that one, I'd have 800," said Heidenreiter, whose 300 in 2003 came during doubles. "It was tight and a hair slow, and it came up a bit high. I just wanted to finish with a nice game and try to get our team to 3,000 for the first time. I just wanted to make good shots and help everybody else out."

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