Professional Bowlers Association

John Handegard beat the odds in the Northwest Classic at Celebrity Bowl in Kennewick, Wash., as he captured his first PBA title. At age 57, Handegard, Las Vegas, is now (he oldest player to win a PBA national tournament.

A 10-time PBA senior champion, Handegard rolled through four opponents to collect the $18,000 top prize and a berth into the 1996 Brunswick World Tournament of Champions.

"Unimaginable...unbelievable...this is the biggest win of my career," said Handegard after his astonishing win. "I can't stop smiling. I've never felt anything like I'm feeling right now."

Handegard's four opponents had a combined 44 national titles. Fifth-seeded, Handegard first disposed of '95 leading money winner Mike Aulby, 215-205. Aulby, Indianapolis, coming off wins at the Brunswick World Tournament of Champions and the American Bowling Congress (ABC) Bud Light Masters, needed two strikes and two pins in the final frame to lock up the win. The 23-time champion failed, leaving the 2-pin on his first ball.

In the second game of the ESPN finals, Norm Duke's bid to become the 16th millionaire in PBA history was thwarted by Handegard. Duke, Edmund, Okla., never led in the match as Handegard rolled nine strikes, including the last five in a row for the 239-225 win. A first or second-place finish would have put Duke over $1 million in career earnings.

In the semifinal game Bryan Goebel, Merriam, Kan., opened with six strikes against Handegard, but faltered in the eighth frame when he left the 4-6-10 split. That opened the door for Handegard who went on to win, 237-235.

In the title match against six-time champion Mark Williams, Handegard threw 10 strikes in his first 11 shots en route to a 278-247 victory. Williams hasn't won since 1988.

Handegard replaced PBA Hall of Famer Buzz Fazio as the oldest to win a national tournament. Fazio was 56 years and 307 days old when he won the Northern California Open in 1965.

Duke also entered his name into the PBA record book. He and Doug Wallace rolled to a 300 tie in the 19th game of match play. They became only the fourth duo to accomplish the feat. In fact, Duke was involved in a 300 game tie with Purvis Granger at the 1987 Showboat Invitational in Las Vegas. The other record holders are Tom Baker and Pete Weber (Denver, 1981) and David Ozio and Mike Edwards (San Antonio, 1993).

CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND

PLAYOFF RESULTS-Handegard defeated Aulby, 215-205; Handegard defeated Duke, 239-225; Handegard defeated Goebel, 237-235; and in the championship game, Handegard defeated Williams, 278-247.

42-GAME TOTALS

		Name, City		Pins		Avg		WLT		+		Tot		Amt
#1		Mark Williams, Beaumont, TX		10039		239.0		19-5-0		570		10609
2		Bryan Goebel, Merriam, KS		9939		236.6		19-5-0		570		10509
#3		Norm Duke, Edmund, OK		10040		239.1		14-9-1		435		10475
4		Mike Aulby, Indianapolis		9023		233.9		14-10-0		420		10243
#5		John Handegard, Las Vegas		9792		233.1		12-11-1		375		10167
6		Walter Ray Williams Jr., Stockton, CA		9866		234.9		10-14-0		300		10166		$3,500
7		Dave Arnold, Gilbert, AZ		9760		232.4		12-12-0		360		10120		3,200
8		Danny Wiseman. Baltimore		9676		230.4		13-11-0		390		10066		3,000
9		Rick Steelsmith, Wichita, KS		9583		228.2		16-8-0		480		10063		2,800
10		Michael Azcarate, Pembroke Pines, FL		9610		228.8		13-11-0		390		10000		2,600
11		Mike DeVaney, Escondido, CA		9601		228.6		13-11-0		390		9991		2,400
12		Jess Stayrook, Tempe, AZ		9503		226.3		13-10-1		405		9908		2,200
13		Parker Bohn III, Jackson, NJ		9519		226.6		11-12-1		345		9864		2,100
14		Dave Wodka, Las Vegas		9533		227.0		11-13-0		330		9863		2,000
15		Joe Firpo, Lake Worth, FL		9545		227.3		10-13-1		315		9860		1,900
16		Ernie Schlegel, Vancouver, WA		9513		226.5		11-13-0		330		9843		1,800
#17		Doug Wallace, Portland, OR		9496		226.1		10-13-1		315		9811		1,700
18		Brian Voss, Atlanta		9505		226.3		10-14-0		300		9805		1,600
19		Bob Spaulding, Greenville, SC		9443		224.8		11-13-0		330		9773		1,500
20		Bob Belmont, Dunedin, FL		9389		223.6		9-15-0		270		9659		1,450
21		Len Blakey, Tacoma. WA		9269		220.7		10-14-0		300		9569		1,400
22		Billy Myers Jr., Temple City, CA		9287		221.1		9-15-0		270		9557		1,350
#23		Rick Berry, Lake Forest, CA		9252		220.3		9-15-0		270		9522		1,300
24		Hugh Miller, Seattle		9174		218.4		6-18-0		180		9354		1,250

Pos.		Name, City/State	Amount
*#25		David Leverage, Poughkeepsie, NV	$1,180
26		Dennis Jacques, Grand Rapids. MI	1,030
		Bob Vespi, Coral Springs, FL	1,030
28		Steve Wilson, Tamarac, FL	1,000
29		Chris Warren, Dallas	980
30		David Ozio, Vidor, TX	970
31		Bill Oakes, Lawton, OK	960
#32		Tim Criss, Bel Air MD	950
33		Butch Super, Lake Havasu City, AZ	940
34		Greg Gomen, Portland, OR	930
35		David Cogswell, San Fernando. CA	920
36		Bryon Smith, Winchester, OR	910
37		George Branham III, Indianapolis	900
38		Dennis Bailey, Vancouver. WA	890
39		Bob Learn Jr., Erie, PA	875
		Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, TX	875
47		Jeff Hickenbottom, Thous. Oaks, CA	860
42		Robby Porter, Portland, OR	850