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finish fourth or better in the round to clinch the world championship and by finishing second he defeated the hard-charging Snedecor by $4,141. Cole has only placed twice in Round 10 in his career at the NFSR and both times led to world titles. “That’s exactly how he planned it, he likes the dramatic,” said Rocky Patterson, Cole’s father. Cole now has the same number of PRCA Steer Roping World Champi onships as his father. Rocky won his gold buckles in 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2016. Back in 2021, when Cole won his first world title, he and his father Rocky became the third father and son to win steer roping world championships. They joined John McEntire (1934) and Clark McEntire (1956-57); Charles Good (1975) and Gary Good (1979). The Pattersons are the winningest father/son duo in PRORODEO steer roping history as they have combined to collect eight world championships. Cole arrived at the NFSR with a single-season steer roping earnings record of $125,080, breaking the mark of $118,515 that he set in 2023. Patterson came into the NFSR with a $28,543 lead over O’Rourke and saw it sliced to just $10,388 after

Day 1, thanks to O’Rourke col lecting a $21,665 check. And the 21-year

old O’Rourke kept his foot on the gas Saturday. The Skiatook, Okla., cowboy clocked

a slick 8.9-second run to win Round 7 and earn a $11,277 check. Patterson had no time, which moved O’Rourke to the No. 1 spot in the world standings with $137,838, while Patterson sat at $135,468. In Round 8, the drama intensified when O’Rourke received no time when his steer got up. Patterson was out of the money with his 14.9-sec ond run, and both were out of the money in the average at ninth and 11th-place. Snedecor put his name in the championship mix with a 9.9-second run to win Round 9 and he moved into third place in the average. Moments later O’Rourke respond ed in Round 9 with a 10.8-second run - to place fifth - and move into eighth in the average. Cole recorded a 10.6-second run - third in the round - to set the stage for his fantastic finish.

“Man, I don’t even know what to say, I’m speechless right now,” Cole said. “That Riley O’Rourke is danger ous. He has a bright future and if he gets better in year two and three like I did, no one will ever beat him.” Just like in 2024, Cole was riding Max, owned by Travis Sheets. He rode Max at the Cinch Playoffs Gov ernor’s Cup presented by Texas Pre cious Metals, Sept. 27 in Sioux Falls, S.D., and earned $5,250 and then he collected a $6,317 aboard Max at the Cowboy Capital Signature Shootout Steer Roping in Stephenville, Texas, Sept. 30. “I can’t say enough about that horse,” Cole said.

Cole Patterson after winning wins his third PRCA Steer Roping World Championship in a row. PRCA photo by Robby Freeman

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DECEMBER 3, 2025