RENO, Nev. - For the first time all week, there is a new leader at the U.S. Open.
Puerto Rico's Cristian Azcona averaged more than 250 during the first eight games of match play Friday night at the National Bowling Stadium, including a 298 game, to surge into the lead with a 9,262 total.
His score includes 40 games of pinfall across four lane conditions and 30 bonus pins for each of his six wins in the opening round of matches.
It took Azcona 39 games to climb his way up the standings, and he settled in just ahead of left-hander Jakob Butturff of Tempe, Arizona, who is second with 9,258. Butturff was the leader after all three rounds of qualifying and the Cashers' Round, which took place Friday morning.