ProRodeo Sports News - Nov. 1, 2019

Rutland reassured by RAM PCFR win Right Path BY TRACY RENCK F ollowing the 2018 PRCA season, Fulton Rutland began re- evaluating his career choice of riding bulls. Rutland earned just $8,561 that season and was searching for answers. RAM PRAIRIE CIRCUIT FINALS RODEO

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“I had a terrible year (in 2018),” said Rutland, 24. “It really motivated me. I came home after the summer run in August and I had a left (riding hand) wrist injury. I didn’t have any money. I went back to work (at a deer ranch inWelling, Okla.), and I started working out like I did in college. I got back into that groove and went at things with a different mentality. I wanted to be consistent (in 2019). That was my main goal.” The renewed focus for Rutland paid dividends. He earned a career- high $18,188 in the 2019 PRCA season. The Stilwell, Okla., cowboy kept things going in the right direction at the RAMPrairie Circuit Finals Rodeo. Rutland won the average with 253.5 points on three head Oct. 19. “It was awesome to get this win,” Rutland said. “I had a really good Finals. I drew well and it all fell into place.” Rutland placed third in the first round with an 82.5-point ride on Silver Creek Rodeo’s Call Brandy. He then won the second round with an 86.5-point ride on Frontier Rodeo’s Kooter Crazy. With an average title in reach, Rutland had an 84.5-point ride onMo Betta Rodeo’s Remember. With his RAMPCFR average victory and Prairie Circuit year-end crown, Rutland qualified for the RAMNational Circuit Finals Rodeo in Kissimmee, Fla., April 2-4. “This will be my first trip (to Kissimmee),” Rutland said. “Everybody talks about how cool it is, and I’m beyond excited to go.” Rutland plans on checking off more career-achievement boxes. “When I was in school, I wrote out a goal map, and I did it in steps,” Rutland said. “I wanted to go to the (Prairie) Circuit Finals and then the National Circuit Finals and then the NFR. I’m just going to step up everything, and I’m going to get after it (in 2020).” IN BRIEF BRUNNER WINS AVERAGE BY 0.1 SECONDS Less than a month after qualifying for the 2019 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, steer wrestler Tanner Brunner kept his momentum going, win- ning the average in Duncan with a 13.0-second time on three head. Brunner edged Tom Utter- mark for the title by one-tenth of a second. GORDON WINS SADDLE BRONC RIDING Colt Gordon had a hectic last month of the PRCA regular season and was rewarded by qualifying for his first Wrangler NFR. Gordon didn’t take time off to celebrate his berth to Las Vegas. The Comanche, Okla., cowboy instead kept busy and won the average at the RAM PCFR with a 242.5-point score on three head.

Taton

1. Blaine Kaufman .......... 248.5 pts. on 3 2. Garrett Shadbolt ....................... 238.5 3. Caine Riddle .............................. 234.5 STEER WRESTLING 1. Tanner Brunner ............ 13.0 sec. on 3 2. Tom Uttermark ............................ 13.1 3. Stockton Graves ......................... 13.8 TEAM ROPING 1. C. Proctor/J. Clay ........ 18.9 sec. on 3 2. B. Hughes/B. Harmon ................. 24.6 3. C. Kirchner/A. Rogers ................. 29.4 SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Colt Gordon ................ 242.5 pts on 3 2. Tyrel Larsen .............................. 230.5 3. Dalton Davis ............................. 227.5 TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Cole Bailey ................... 32.1 sec. on 3 2. Lucas Potter ............................... 34.7 3. Caddo Lewallen .......................... 35.7 STEER ROPING 1. Brady Garten ............... 39.8 sec. on 3 2. Trenton Johnson ......................... 42.5 3. Roger Branch .............................. 43.0 BULL RIDING 1. Fulton Rutland ............ 253.5 pts on 3 2. Coy Pollmeier ........................... 246.5 3. Trevor Kastner ............................. 169

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ProRodeo Sports News 11/1/2019

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