ProRodeo Sports News - November 16, 2018

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10, Snedecor also took home $13,202 for finishing fourth in the average with a 92.8-second time on eight head. “I don’t crunch numbers anymore, that’s not my deal,” Snedecor said. “I practiced and I prepared for this, and I just went out and focused on doing what I do and having fun. I would have preferred it (the championship won) before Round 10, but man, it’s an exciting feeling to go out there like I have practiced and have it pay off like this. That’s what it comes down to, preparing and doing what I prepared to do.” Snedecor joins Rocky Patterson with four gold buckles. Only legendary Guy Allen (18), Everett Shaw (6) and Trevor Brazile (6) have more steer roping gold buckles than Snedecor and Patterson. Snedecor won Round 2 and Round 10 outright and split the win in Round 1. His three round wins were the most of any 2018 NFSR competitor. Snedecor also was second in Round 4, and he split fourth in Round 6. He earned $51,086 at the NFSR, the most of any cowboy. Snedecor has won 26 rounds at the NFSR, which is third best all time. Only Allen (48) and Brazile (35) have more. Brazile won Round 8 at the 2018 NFSR, extending his PRCA record to 68 career total rounds won at either the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo – in tie-down roping and team roping – or the NFSR. For the second year in a row, Snedecor won the world championship riding Possum. “Possum is an outstanding equine athlete,” Snedecor said. “Stephen Stransky owns that horse. He and I grew up together, and I’m fortunate to get to ride that horse. It doesn’t matter what circumstance you put that horse in, he’s great under any condition, long score, short score. He’s easy to rope on, and I’m lucky to have a buddy like that to let me take that horse when I need him.” Cooper had an outstanding regular season, establishing the PRCA steer roping record for money earned in a season before the NFSR with $89,427. The previous record was set in 1998 by Allen with $87,927. However, Cooper had a rough NFSR, registering a no-time in six of the 10 rounds. After the first day where he didn’t earn any money, Cooper bounced back in Round 6. He won the round in 8.3 seconds, tying the fastest run in NFSR history with Cash Myers (2006), Jess Tierney (2015) and Allen (2016). Cooper then placed fourth in Round 7 with an 11.0-second run and

earned $4,420 to take over the lead in the season standings with $103,002. Snedecor was second with $99,574 after recording a no time in Round 7. The door opened again for Snedecor when Cooper’s 10.6-second time in Round 8 was nullified because he didn’t have a wrap on all three legs. Snedecor clocked a 13.2-second run, which didn’t place in the round, leaving Cooper with the $3,428 lead in the world standings. Cooper then applied more pressure by winning Round 9 with a 9.5-second run, but Snedecor answered in Round 10 to claim his world title. “First place in the go-round in the last round would not have won me a world championship,” said Cooper, who had a no time in Round 10. “Scott Snedecor is the best (steer roper) in the world, congratulations (to him).” Cody Lee won the average with a 132.0-second time on 10 head. He earned the $27,347 first-place check and moved up from 15th to sixth in the world standings with $83,976. Bryce Davis finished second in the average with a 136.7-second time on 10. Davis scooted up from 14th to seventh in the world standings with $80,788. Lee and Davis were the only competitors to rope all 10 steers. “I outlasted everybody,” said Lee, who also won the NFSR average in 2016. “I just kept tying them down. It feels great to win that first-place average check ($27,347).” Other top money winners at the NFSR were Brazile ($45,477), Lee ($42,869), Davis ($38,786), Rocky Patterson ($35,333) and Chet Herren ($33,359). Cooper earned $22,730 at the NFSR and heads into the 2018Wrangler National Finals Rodeo as the All-Around Cowboy leader. He leads second- place Brazile, his brother-in-law, by $5,703 in the all-around race. Cooper, the reigning all-around world champion, and Brazile are competing in tie-down roping at the Wrangler NFR. In other highlights, by virtue of winning Round 2 with a 10.9-second time, Snedecor also won the Colby Goodwin Award. The Second Go-Round Award is given in honor of the late Goodwin, who passed away after being injured during the ninth round of the 1999 NFSR. Garrett Hale, who finished 11th in the world standings with $66,133, won the Dixon McGowan Award, given to the highest-ranked first-time qualifier to the NFSR. The award memorializes McGowan, who died at age 23 in an automobile accident May 10, 1997.

ProRodeo Sports News 11/16/2018

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