ProRodeo Sports News - April 5, 2019

RODEO AUSTIN

Kimzey cashes in; doubles up atAustin Fresh off recovering from injury, reigning five-time World Champion Bull Rider Sage Kimzey won Rodeo Austin for the second consecutive time. “It’s been a long process just because I got so banged up at the Finals, but I’m finally healthy and feeling good, so everything’s good now,” Kimzey said. “It’s been a really good year considering all the stuff I had to go through this year.” Winning Austin moved Kimzey from third to second place in the world standings. Kimzey placed seventh in the first round with 83 points and won the semifinals with an 88-point ride on Andrews Rodeo’s No. 5. “I was just drawing good bulls and capitalizing whenever I do,” Kimzey said. There were no qualified rides in the bull riding for the final round, so Kimzey was named the champion based on his first two rides at Austin, which added up to $7,286 toward the world standings. “It sucks this year because I didn’t get to ride in the finals, and there was a lot of money left on the table,” Kimzey said. ​ –Matt Naber

Sage Kimzey won Rodeo Austin for the second consecutive year. The victory moved the reigning world champion from third in the world standings to second. Kirt Steinke photo

Win helps Guenthner climb in standings

Steer wrestler Scott Guenthner, 27, jumped from eighth to fourth in the world standings thanks to winning $13,647 at Rodeo Austin. The Canadian cowboy has competed at the last twoWrangler NFRs, and now he can add Rodeo Austin champion to his résumé. “It’s huge, it’s one everyone wants to win, and I feel pretty fortunate,” Guenthner said. “It’s a long way from the end of the year, and there are a lot of rodeos left. I know what it takes to make it there (the Finals), but this makes it more relaxing and easygoing.” He tied for 10th in the first round with a 3.9-second run and placed second in the semifinals with 3.7 seconds. It was a clean slate for the final

round, and he came out on top with a 3.6-second run. Guenthner competed on Tyson, the same horse he rode at the 2018 Wrangler NFR, a 16-year-old American Quarter Horse owned by fellow bulldogger Curtis Cassidy. “I’ve had good luck on him, so I stay on him as much as I can,” Guenthner said. Meanwhile, Guenthner’s friend and fellow steer wrestler Tanner Milan hazed for him. “He was a big part of it,” Guenthner said. “He puts them where I need them and is one of the good hazers going down the road right now.” –Matt Naber

ProRodeo Sports News 4/5/2019

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