ProRodeo Sports News - October 30, 2020

Cole Patterson hoping to join father as steer roping champ Top View NATIONAL FINALS STEER ROPING

BY TRACY RENCK A year ago, Cole Patterson made his Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping debut. The experience isn’t something he saved on a highlight reel. Patterson earned $5,420 at the NFSR and finished 15th in the 2019 PRCA | RAMWorld Standings. “It’s a 10-head marathon over there (at the NFSR), and if you look back to just about everyone who has had a good finals, they had a good first round,” said Patterson, who roped only three steers at the 2019 NFSR. “The first round is so important in a 10-header. You can’t put all the weight in the world on the first one, but I got off to a bad start. And when your game plan goes out the window right after you start it usually is not a good thing.” Patterson is back again in Mulvane, and he has a view from the top of the regular season standings with life with my dad,” said Cole, 25. “I’ve known almost (all) these guys (at the NFSR), and I’ve looked up to them – guys like Scott (Snedecor), Trevor (Brazile) and Vin (Fisher Jr.). To have my name in the same category is pretty rewarding.” Cole would love nothing more than to join his father as a steer roping world champion. “It’s every kid’s dream growing up to put on that gold buckle,” Cole said. “There’s really no other reason why we do it.” Snedecor, a four-time world champ (2005, 2008, 2017- 18), is second in the standings with $53,210. “What I like about being (second) is I don’t have a bull’s- eye on my back,” Snedecor said. “I have everything to gain and nothing to lose on that deal.” Fisher ($49,797), Brazile, the reigning world champion ($48,387), and Landon McClaugherty ($46,463) round out the top five. “If you look at those standings, there are so many guys who can win it this year,” said Fisher, who won the most money at the 2019 NFSR, earning $61,990. “It’s going to come down to whoever does the best at the NFSR is going to be the world champion. With the standings this close, it’s going to be more different than it has ever been.” $54,598. Patterson’s father, Rocky, a four-time world champion, enters in the No. 14 position in his 26th trip to the NFSR. “I’ve been around steer roping my whole

PRCA ProRodeo photo by William Kierce After making his debut at the 2019 Clem McSpadden NFSR as a rookie, Cole Patterson is making a return trip, and this time he comes in as the season leader in the steer roping world standings with $54,598.

CLEM MCSPADDEN NATIONAL FINALS STEER ROPING WHEN: Nov. 6-7, 7:30 p.m. (CT) WHERE: Kansas Star Arena, Mulvane, Kan. COST: Tickets from $28, available

ROUNDS: Pay six places – First, $9,155; second, $7,577; third, $5,998; fourth, $4,420; fifth, $2,841; sixth, $1,579). AVERAGE: Pays six places – First, $27,347); second, $22,632; third place, $17,917; fourth, $13,202; fifth, $8,487; sixth, $4,715.

at www.kansasstarcasino.com and ticketmaster.com WHAT’S AT STAKE: Top 15 steer ropers vying for a world championship and a share of $425,000.

ProRodeo Sports News 10/30/2020

ProRodeo.com

40