Champion Dembinski capped his extraordinary performance with a trip to Catahoula's where he foresook the usual champion's repast of a Red Hot in favor of the world's oldest giant dill pickle.  The proprietor, known to the loyal patrons only as "Johnny", celebrated with a cold Diet Pepsi.  "Boy, I never thought we'd get rid of that pickle" he said.  "It's been here longer than I have.  Now I gotta figger out what to do with all the freed-up counter space."

At left, a smiling Champion Dembinski (left - pre-giant pickle) toasts his vanquished opponent with a cold Bud.

Eventual Champion Rob Dembinski pauses to scratch his throwing arm during an early round match on his way to the Championship. 

His opponent, annual early-round fodder Eric Poklar from Columbus, Ohio, seems a bit perplexed and woefully unprepared for the late May weather at Obringer National.  Fortunately, Mr. Poklar donned more appropriate attire the following afternoon for his trip to The Challenge at Hideaway Farms golf course, where he managed a birdie 2 at the par 3 eighth hole on his way to consuming some 10 or 12 leftover beers from previous day's Masters.

A beaming Lee Ann Obringer poses for posterity alongside her remarkable Masters first - a double pipe!

The woman known to Masters participants as a gracious hostess proved she can also fling a washer or two with this incredible throw.  Despite her valiant efforts, her doubles team was unable to finish in the money.  For this moment, however, she sat atop the Masters world, and the buzz continues over whether she'll duplicate the feat in 1999.

Showing the strain of what would turn out to be his second straight Runner-up finish, a graying Dave Obringer ponders his next throw during his second-round match-up against his wife.

In the background his son Alex, confident in Dad's abilities, takes a break from spectating to follow the salamander action near the official Masters swingset.