ProRodeo Sports News - October 2, 2020

PRORODEO TOUR FINALE RAPID CITY, S.D. Durfey makes NFR, hits $2M

Tie-down roper Tyson Durfey ignored the pain in his back and the numbness in his legs. Going into the Gold Buckle Beer ProRodeo Tour Finale, the 2016 world champion was on the outside looking in at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Durfey knew what was required to get into the Finals on the final weekend of the regular season. So, he went out and posted an 8.0-second run in the final round of the Tour Finale and booked a return trip to the Wrangler NFR by jumping from 20th to 12th in the PRCA | RAMWorld Standings. “I’d like to say that I’m that good, but

it’s the good Lord who got me there,” Durfey said. “I had been fighting a back injury all year and my legs feel numb a lot of the time and have no strength. I had been to 50 rodeos and only placed at a couple, and by the grace of God he gave me the strength to get through it.” Durfey plans on having an MRI later this fall. If surgery is needed, he’ll hold off on it until after the Finals. Durfey battled just to get into the eight-man semifinals, splitting seventh in the two-head average. He went on to win the finals by a half second. “I hadn’t done the math, but I knew I needed to win first and had a chance that was pretty good, and luckily I was able to make a decent run,” said Durfey, who earned $8,740 in Rapid City. “I was a little late on

Alaina Stangle photo Tyson Durfey rode his new horse, Blue Duck, throughout the Tour Finale and won $8,740.

the barrier, but we got it in eight seconds, which is the lucky number for cowboys.” Of the cowboys in the Top 15 for their respective events, Durfey’s jump from 20th to 12th was the biggest during the final full week of the regular season. Not only did the win grant him a spot at the Wrangler NFR, it also pushed him into the $2 million club for total career earnings. Durfey is now one of 33 ProRodeo athletes to break the $2 million mark. “At my age (36), with all the competition coming in, you have to step on it, and it feels good to capitalize on the situation,” Durfey said.

Xxxxxx photo Riley and Brady Minor almost didn’t go to the Tour Finale, but they’re glad they did after winning the final round and netting $9,788.

ProRodeo Sports News 10/2/2020

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