LAS VEGAS - Craig Tuholski of Washougal, Wash., struggled during the first half of the 2008-09 Lumber Liquidators Professional Bowlers Association Tour season, but has been able to pinpoint his weaknesses and make the changes necessary to be successful on the lanes.

The 34-year-old right-hander got the validation he was looking for Tuesday afternoon as he averaged 237.4 and took the overall lead after two squads at the USBC Masters with a 1,187 five-game total.

Tuholski, bowling in his 13th event as an exempt player on the PBA Tour, ended the day with a 289 game and finished eight pins ahead of England's Dominic Barrett, who is second with 1,179. Corey Husted, the son of PBA Hall of Famer Dave Husted, is third with 1,161.

"It feels good to be in the lead at this tournament, but the biggest part of the event isn't until match play," Tuholski said. "I did what I wanted to do today and got myself in position to make match play, and hopefully, I can keep the same pace tomorrow."

First-round leader, George Lambert IV of Canada, is now sixth overall with 1,157.

Lambert, who finished third at the Masters as an amateur in 2006, is now a PBA member and has become a regular face at Tour events as he chases his own exemption.

"I kept the ball in play and carried well today, and I'm happy with my scores," said Lambert, a member of Team Canada since 1999 and a co-captain of the Wichita State team that won the 2008 USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships. "I've been traveling with the Tour for a while now, and there's a lot of champions and hall of famers out there, so I've learned a lot. I've also had some success, and I'm definitely starting to feel like I belong out there."

Tuholski and company now will look on as two more squads of bowlers take to the lanes at Cashman Center on Tuesday. In all, more than 400 of the best professional and amateur bowlers will compete, all with their sights set on the $60,000 top prize.

This year marks the first time since 2001 that the Masters is being held on the same lanes that also will be home to the USBC Open Championships. The relationship began with the inception of the Masters in 1951, but ended when the Masters remained at the National Bowling Stadium from 2002 until January of 2004. It was then held in Milwaukee in October of 2004, and again from 2005 until 2007. Because of its return to the Open Championships venue, the Masters was not held in 2008.

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