BOWLING SENIOR PBA AT LAKEWOOD : Handegard Takes 24-Game Lead

John Handegard, who spent 17 years making plywood for a living in Oregon, is still working on wood at the age of 51.

He gave the bowling tenpins a good going over Tuesday night at Cal Bowl in Lakewood to take the lead after 24 games of the $55,000 Pacific Senior PBA tournament.

Handegard and 23 others of the original field of 144 made the cut to gain the match-play semifinals leading to Thursday night’s final.

Among those advancing were Southern Californians Delano Boothe, Doug Johnson and Walt Block. Hall of Famers’ Teata Semiz, Dave Soutar, Dick Weber, Les Zikes and Don Johnson also survived, but Glenn Allison, Bill Bunetta and Bill Beach, all Hall of Famers, didn’t.

Handegard, who left the plywood business and went on to managing bowling centers and running a bowling pro shop, is after his third Senior PBA title since joining the tour three years ago.

Handegard, who makes his home in Lake Jackson, Tex., is averaging 220 and leads Jim Brenner of LeClaire, Iowa, by two pins going into today’s play.

Boothe, for years a high-scorer in Southern California leagues, is only 57 points off the pace. Johnson, a retired auto company employee, and Block, a bank executive, are veteran champions of regional pro tournaments in Southern California.

First prize in the 40-game event is $5,000.