Montana Cowboy Takes Victory
At Home, Besting 92 Others

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Rod Lyman is back with a vengeance.

Lyman, of Victor, Mont., placed in both rounds of the steer wrestling at the $106,057 NILE Stock Show and Rodeo in Billings, Mont., to best 92 other steer wrestlers and win the average title. He won a total of $4464 at the NILE to earn more last week than any other PRCA contestant.

The Montana win boosts the 15-year veteran from 11th to seventh place in the 1998 Crown Royal world steer wrestling standings with $55,297. Lyman, an 11-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier, missed his first NFR since 1988 last year when he suffered a season-ending knee injury while calf roping at the Timed Event Championship of the World in Guthrie, Okla., in March.

But this year, the three-time Montana circuit steer wrestling champ is lining himself up for a 12th NFR qualification and possibly a first world championship. Lyman finished third in the year-end world standings in 1986 and has ended up in fourth place three times, but has never won a world championship or an NFR average title.

Ty Murray, Stephenville, Texas, continues to lead the all-around competition with $172,839. He is followed by Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, with $119,827; Herbert Theriot, Poplarville, Miss., $113,704; Kurt Goulding, Duncan, Okla., $91,200; and Joe Beaver, Huntsville, Texas, $90,639.

Standings by event:

Saddle bronc riding: 1. Dan Mortensen, Manhattan, Mont., $127,686; 2. Tom Reeves, Eagle Butte, S.D., $77,125; 3. Red Lemmel, Mud Butte, S.D., $75,182; 4. Derek Clark, Colcord, Okla., $73,353; 5. Billy Etbauer, Ree Heights, S.D., $67,772.

Bareback riding: 1. Clint Corey, Culver, Ore., $81,588; 2. Rocky Steagall, Sanger, Calif., $65,780; 3. Larry Sandvick, Kaycee, Wyo., $64,838; 4. Deb Greenough, Red Lodge, Mont., $63,636; 5. Chris Harris, Arlington, Texas, $56,881.

Bull riding: 1. Ty Murray, Stephenville, Texas, $95,419; 2. Mike White, Lake Charles, La., $71,279; 3. Blu Bryant, Nacogdoches, Texas, $70,977; 4. Kelly Armstrong, Big Valley, Alberta, Canada, $65,930; 5. Cody Custer, Wickenburg, Ariz., $64,932.

Calf roping: 1. Cody Ohl, Stephenville, Texas, $123,703; 2. Fred Whitfield, Hockley, Texas, $93,313; 3. Trent Walls, Stephenville, Texas, $76,578; 4. Blair Burk, Durant, Okla., $71,270; 5. Stran Smith, Tell, Texas, $70,704.

Steer wrestling: 1. Mike Smith, Baton Rouge, La., $81,083; 2. Rope Myers, Van, Texas, $79,536; 3. Bryon Walker, Ennis, Texas, $67,935; 4. Steve Duhon, Sonora, Texas, $57,523; 5. Lee Graves, Calgary, Alberta, $57,020.

Team roping (heading): 1. Charles Pogue, Ringling, Okla., $63,773; 2. Speed Williams, Jacksonville, Fla., $62,509; 3. Bret Boatright, Mulhall, Okla., $55,435; 4. Steve Purcella, Hereford, Texas, $48,085; 5. Chance Kelton, Mayer, Ariz., $46,879.

Team roping (heeling): 1. Britt Bockius, Claremore, Okla., $64,109; 2. Rick Skelton, Llano, Texas, $61,684; 3. Kory Koontz, Sudan, Texas, $52,737; 4. Allen Back, Ceres, Calif., $48,584; 5. Steve Northcott, Odessa, Texas, $48,085.

Steer roping: 1. Guy Allen, Lovington, Texas, $87,927; 2. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, $44,503; 3. Jim Davis, Abilene, Texas, $40,100; 4. Marty Jones, Hobbs, N.M., $33,296; 5. Rocky Patterson, Pratt, Kan., $26,495.

Barrel racing: 1. Kristie Peterson, Elbert, Colo., $110,732; 2. Sherry Cervi, Midland, Texas, $106,872; 3. Janet Stover, Athens, Texas, $64,120; 4. Charmayne James, Stephenville, Texas, $56,963; 5. Cheyenne Wimberely, Stephenville, Texas, $44,366.