EARLY AFTERNOON THUNDERSTORM, NO MATCH FOR 2008 CEREMONIAL

An early afternoon thunderstorm was no match for the players of the 2008 Ceremonial Tournament. After a meeting with all team captains, it was decided that the scoring would be done by counting the first 11 holes of the tournament and add a "Pitching-Chipping" Contest. In the mean time, Ernie Abeita, chairman of the event for at least the last 20 years, brought the steaks early and the cookout got under way.

So, instead of one event, the participants ended up with two tournaments on the same day (left, before the thunderstorm, Steve Calvin, Macdonald Avery, Andrew Dominguez, Larrison Whitehair, Ray Moore & Olsen Arviso). The first 11 holes, were a "normal" 3-Man Scramble; the second contest included 6 holes from 3 different positions. The prizes were divided proportionately between the two contests. Long-Hitting Josh Miles, from Holbrook, AZ., came to defend his win of last year (here pictured with wife Rebecca and Randy Ramirez from Holbrook as well)

In the "Main Event" the winners were as follows (scores denote "under par" with a percentage of the team's handicap for the first eleven holes played): 1st (-7) Jason Armstrong, Doug Clark & Skip Curley; 2nd (-7) Mike Thompson, Calvin Begay & Ronnie Pinto; 3rd (-6.4) Clarence Peterson, Wayne Claw & Bernie Dominguez; 4th (-6.3) Brent Bischoff Albert Hale & George Arviso; 5th (-6.11) Paul Dimas, Leroy Thomas & Rafael Rodriguez; 6th (-5.8) Scott Hamilton, Darryll Dodson & Willie Holtsoi; 7th (-5.4) Ray Moore, Larrison Whitehair & Macdonald Avery.

In the "Pitching-Chipping Contest", the winners were as follows: 1st (-5.7) Brent Bischoff, Albert Hale & George Arviso; 2nd (-3.4) Scott Hamilton, Darryll Dodson & Willie Holtsoi; 3rd (-3.25) Jerry Nez Jr., George Atcitty & Robert Rosales; 4th (-3.15) Josh Miles, Gigi Bischoff & Mike Joe; T5th (-2.8) Olsen Arviso, Andrew Dominguez & Steve Calvin; Randy Ramirez, Gordon Gorman & Dot Upshaw and Marco Abeita, Hoskie Nez & Don Marzilli.