BOWLING PBA AT TORRANCE : Holman Has a Big Lead Despite 147

Marshall Holman, bowling’s all-time money-winner, rolled a 147 Thursday night at Gable House Bowl in Torrance.

Did it bother him? Not at all.

In the next game of the $175,000 AC-Delco PBA Tournament, he struck for a near-perfect 289 and continued his merry way as the runaway leader.

“What can I say? Gable House is being good to me and I’m happy over it,” the 37-year-old Oregonian said after 26 games.

Earlier in the day, the original field of 160 bowlers was cut to 24 semifinalists with Holman 302 pins ahead.

His 4,426 score (245 average) for 18 games was believed the highest three-round total ever at the center. The Pro Bowlers Tour has been stopping off at Gable House since 1977.

Surviving the cut were a number of veteran challengers, including Dave Ferraro, Norm Duke, Del Ballard Jr., Wayne Webb, Ron Palombi and Parker Bohn III.

Ferraro, in second place going into today’s play, gained ground on Holman after the first of three match-play rounds and is 221 pins off the pace.

Also still in the hunt to gain Saturday’s five-man championship final are Eric Forkel of Chatsworth, in sixth place, and Dan Natarelli of Mission Hills, tied for 10th.

Neither has a national tour title, but Forkel, 31, has won 12 regional pro titles and Natarelli, 23, recently excelled with a 300-258-239-300-1,097 series in league at Rocky Mountain Bowl and a 300-278-299-877 series in a PBA regional tournament at Buena Lanes.

A tough split and several open frames resulted in Holman’s 147 game. Before that, he had 20 consecutive games of 200 or better, including a 300 on Wednesday.