ProRodeo Sports News - November 16, 2018

DECEMBER 6-15 LAS VEGAS

first while elevating their partners into the top spot. For Eaves, the amount of money separating cowboys doesn’t change the way he approaches the Finals. “If I came in 15th I’m going to try to win first,” he said. “As much money as there is, you can’t rope reckless or safe, you’ve got to rope right. It doesn’t change anything for me.” One of the closest competitions this season has been waged in tie-down roping. The trio of Shane Hanchey (leading with $136,577), Tuf Cooper ($134,768) and Tyson Durfey ($126,518) have battled for the regular-season lead throughout 2018. Hanchey secured that lead on the season’s ultimate weekend, Sept. 28-30. He heads to Vegas with a lead of $1,809 on Cooper and $10,059 on Durfey. “I haven’t even looked at it as a competition among us three,” Hanchey said. “There are so many more guys that rope well besides us three. Plus, when you get to Vegas, all that matters is if you have a back number, especially with the money that’s up for grabs now. Tyson proved that a few years ago.” Canadian steer wrestler Curtis Cassidy came out on top in the regular-season standings. He edged defending world champion Tyler Pearson by $8,384. The closeness of the competition has driven the steer wrestlers to continue to bulldog hard. “It’s good, it keeps you going at every steer,” Pearson said. “You don’t ever relax, you know every steer means something.” Regardless of the gap in the standings, Pearson said guys can’t let down. Last year, he rose from third to first while overcoming a $53,233 deficit at the Finals last year to win his first gold buckle. “You have to go hard every time,” Pearson said. “If you don’t, you’re going to get passed because everybody else is trying to win first. If you’re just trying to get them laid over, you’re not going to win much.” LEADS MADETO BE BROKEN Defending saddle bronc riding champion Ryder Wright has battled to keep pace with regular-season leader Jacobs Crawley all season. Crawley finished the regular season with $168,101. Wright is next, $3,023 behind. At last year’s Finals, Wright, then 19 years old, climbed from eighth to first while earning $185,577 at the Finals. He overcame Crawley’s lead of $84,566 to nab his first gold buckle. “It’s fun,” Wright said earlier this season about the race to first. “What are you riding for if there’s not any competition?” Despite the large disparity in winnings in bull riding, even Kimzey’s lead isn’t secure. With ground money counting toward the world standings in only that event, if only one cowboy makes the eight-second whistle in a round, that cowboy would cash in for $84,615. Needless to say, heading into the 2018Wrangler NFR no lead is safe. “There’s so much money to be won down there it’s anybody’s game,” Bennett said. “A couple years ago I watched Steven Peebles come from 14th to win the (2015 bareback riding) world title. I think the only thing you need to focus on is doing your job and taking care of business one night at a time.”

in the hunt

BAREBACK RIDING 1. Tim O’Connell $187,250 2. Caleb Bennett 172,428 3. Clayton Biglow 135,166

Difference between first to second = $14,822 Difference between first to third = $52,084 STEER WRESTLING 1. Curtis Cassidy $106,009 2. Tyler Pearson 97,625 3. Scott Guenthner 92,323 Difference between first to second = $8,384 Difference between first to third = $13,686 TEAM ROPING HEADING 1. Clay Smith $115,345

2. Kaleb Driggers 114,952 3. Dustin Egusquiza 106,396

Difference between first to second = $393 Difference between first to third = $8,949

TEAM ROPING HEELING 1. Junior Nogueira $115,936

2. Paul Eaves 115,345 3. Kory Koontz 106,396

Difference between first to second = $591 Difference between first to third = $9,540

SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Jacobs Crawley $168,101 2. Ryder Wright 165,078 3. Isaac Diaz 124,740

Difference between first to second = $3,023 Difference between first to third = $43,361 TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Shane Hanchey $136,577 2. Tuf Cooper 134,768 3. Tyson Durfey 126,518 Difference between first to second = $1,809 Difference between first to third = $10,059 BULL RIDING

Last year, Tyler Pearson jumped from third to first to win the gold buckle. He enters in second this year. PRCA ProRodeo photo by Greg Westfall

1. Sage Kimzey $297,026 2. Parker Breding 185,476 3. Dustin Boquet 114,588

Difference between first to second = $111,550 Difference between first to third = $182,438

ProRodeo Sports News 11/16/2018

ProRodeo.com

51